The image features curved and flowing lines in a blend of muted and vibrant colors. Two figures are depicted: one cloaked in a dark shadow and the other elongated with pale, flowing robes. The scene suggests a shoreline with wavy lines resembling water. The surrounding landscape portrays sweeping curves and indistinct shapes reminiscent of hills or mountains in the distance.
Edvard Munch, Edvard Munch, Two Women on the Shore, 1898 / c.1907, color woodcut and linoleum cut on Japanese paper, Print Purchase Fund (Rosenwald Collection) and Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1978.15.3

Upcoming Exhibition

Tinker Tinker

Printmakers at Work

Details

  • Dates

    -

  • Locations

    West Building

    West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G23

  • Ticketing Information

    Admission is always free and passes are not required

Get an intimate look at how artists like Pablo Picasso, Mary Cassatt, and Rembrandt experimented, revised, and problem-solved through printmaking.  

Printmaking is dynamic and iterative by nature. The process invites artists to test an idea again and again—and to record their choices made along the way.

Tinker Tinker brings together more than 120 prints from the past 500 years, drawn from the National Gallery’s deep and varied collection. Through striking side-by-side comparisons, including rarely seen proofs, you’ll discover the creative thinking behind these original works of art in print form.

You’ll leave with a new appreciation for how centuries-old printmaking techniques continue to inspire artists today.

Selected works

The image features curved and flowing lines in a blend of muted and vibrant colors. Two figures are depicted: one cloaked in a dark shadow and the other elongated with pale, flowing robes. The scene suggests a shoreline with wavy lines resembling water. The surrounding landscape portrays sweeping curves and indistinct shapes reminiscent of hills or mountains in the distance.
Edvard Munch, Edvard Munch, Two Women on the Shore, 1898 / c.1907, color woodcut and linoleum cut on Japanese paper, Print Purchase Fund (Rosenwald Collection) and Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1978.15.3
This print features bold black lettering and a stylized depiction of a person enjoying champagne in an Art Nouveau style. The person is on the left, and they have flowing, curly hair orange hair and pale peach skin, set against a vibrant yellow background. The person is wearing a pale orange dress and holding a champagne glass surrounded by a cascade of beige bubbles. The text on the poster contains the words "FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE" at the top in thick black letters, with more text on the bottom right, set against the bubbles.
Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Ancourt, Poster for "France-Champagne", 1891, color lithograph on beige paper mounted to fabric support, Virginia and Ira Jackson Collection, 2000.180.9
The image depicts a colorful landscape with a canyon viewed from an elevated perspective. The focus is on the deep layers and vibrant formations of the canyon with steep cliffs and greenery on the slopes. The style features bold brushstrokes resembling woodblock prints, creating texture on the rock faces. The color palette includes vivid yellows, oranges, reds, purple, and blue, enhancing the dynamic view of the canyon.
Gustave Baumann, Bright Angel Trail, 1930, color woodcut on Zanders laid paper, Gift of the Ann Baumann Trust, 2013.124.11
The image depicts three block-print style faces. The leftmost face shows the upper half, with intense shadows. The middle face is full-frontal with a serene expression. The rightmost face has an exaggerated expression with a wide-open mouth and wild hair. Bold, jagged lines emphasize contours and depth against a dark, textured background.
Käthe Kollwitz, The People (Das Volk), 1922/1923, woodcut on wove paper [proof], Rosenwald Collection, 1946.21.122
Leonardo Drew, Crown Point Press, CPP3, 2015, color aquatint and etching on Magnani Revere, Gift of Kathan Brown, 2019.115.115

Organization  

Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Curated by Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of old master prints

You may also like

Exhibition:  In the Library: Reimagining America by Design

The image depicts a seated woman in a half-body portrait within an ornate gold-colored border. She is sitting upright with her hands in lace gloves in front of her. The woman has a composed expression, short hair, and wears a dark dress with lace details. The background is plain, emphasizing the details of her attire and the frame. No jewelry is visible.

Exhibition:  Remember Me