Between the Lines - Prints from Leiden University

Project 

The project was started by Professor Yvonne Bleyerveld (special professor of Art on Paper) and the MA students of her course “Art on Paper” at Leiden University, where Dutch and Flemish engravings and etchings were studied, and made possible by the generosity of Museum Bredius.

Prints 

Museum Bredius has 21 prints made by Dutch artists between 1580 and 1700 on loan from the Special Collections of Leiden University. All prints depict scenes and motifs that also appear in the museum's paintings, such as a woman baking pancakes, musical groups, cheerful drinkers, quacks and mythological figures. There is often a deeper meaning in these stories and motifs. However, this is not always clear at first glance. There is a need for a closer look between the lines. 
In the prints, these lines can be taken quite literally. After all, these images consist of black ink lines on paper. This exhibition features both engravings and etchings. In both printing techniques, the image is cut into a copper plate before being transferred to paper. The design drawing for this was often made by a different artist than the one who made the engraving or etching. Often the design drawing was made by an artist, while the engraving of the plate was done by a specialized engraver or etcher. That is why you sometimes find two artists' names on one print.

The image in the copper plate was inked and then printed using a printing press, creating a mirror image of the original design. Hundreds of copies could be made from one copper plate. As a result, prints were much cheaper than paintings and became widespread. They were bought by a wide audience, including artists. Prints were an effective means of spreading ideas about behavior and morality. Knowledge about nature and classical antiquity also became known through prints. 
This exhibition was put together by a group of international students from the Master's program in Arts and Culture. For the course 'Art on Paper', each student chose a painting from Museum Bredius and two prints from the Special Collections of Leiden University. The aim was to connect themes, visual traditions and meanings in Dutch paintings and prints from the period 1580-1700. 
Leiden University owns more than 100,000 prints and 12,000 drawings that were brought together over a period of two hundred years. For students, works of art from this collection are inspiring research sources. In this exhibition they invite you to participate.