The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao presents Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest, a comprehensive overview of drawings and prints produced over 700 years, from the 15th century to the present, including works by such great artists as Albrecht Dürer, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Francisco de Goya, Miklós Barabás, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele, Victor Vasarely, Vera Molnar, Judit Reigl, Dóra Maurer, Georg Baselitz, Katharina Grosse, or Gerhard Richter.
A collaboration between the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Museum of Fine Arts – Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest, a renowned institution housing international art treasures spanning from antiquity to the 21st century, the exhibition constitutes the international presentation of its most valued drawings and prints. Around 150 masterpieces have been selected to shed light on the centuries-old traditions of these genres, their constant openness to innovation, and their varied formal solutions, essential features, and characteristic aesthetic effects.
Contexts
The show is divided into twelve thematic sections that showcase the distinctive features of each period, while highlighting the most relevant connections and issues in drawing and printmaking. Although the pieces are displayed chronologically and divided into historical periods when appropriate, a narrative approach is chosen that transcends traditional classifications, offering a deeper understanding, and allowing the exploration of different perspectives and contexts in art.
Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest highlights the technical diversity of these works, with examples ranging from charcoal, chalk, India ink, and watercolor drawings to others made with pencil and mixed media, and from woodcuts, engravings, and lithographs to silkscreen prints and the latest digital printing technologies. The show also reveals the various functions of these works, which served as sketches, studies, and preparatory drawings but also acquired the status of autonomous or experimental drawings, individual works, series, or works that are transformed into other media.
The experience of viewing this great selection of drawings and prints provides a deep insight into their impact on visual culture and their ability to inspire and provoke reflection throughout history, enriching the understanding of art.
As the oldest form of artistic expression, drawing stands as a bridge that connects ideas and emotions with visual representation. Its dynamic nature and its ability to adapt to demands of all ages demonstrate its relevance and timeliness.
Masters
For its part, printmaking, which emerged and consolidated from the 15th century onwards, radically transformed the production and dissemination of images, democratising access to art. This medium not only enabled mass circulation of works, but also acted as a catalyst for influential periods such as the Renaissance and the Reformation. By examining prints by masters like Albrecht Durer, one can understand how these works not only functioned as models for painting, but were also vehicles of ideas and styles that transcended geographical and temporal boundaries.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue that tells the story of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest’s Collection of Prints and Drawings and articulates the works in the exhibition into twelve thematic sections, reflecting the extensive panorama of art produced over seven centuries, from the 15th century to the present day.
For more information:
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus
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