National Gallery of Art, Washington, December 19, 2026–June 13, 2027

Printmaking is an iterative medium, one that empowers artists to experiment, manipulate, and revise their work as it evolves from idea to finished product. A printmaking design made in a wood block, copper plate, or lithographic stone can be repeatedly modified over time. Each new version is tested by inking the block, plate, or stone and passing it through a printing press with a sheet of paper to create “states” that capture the transformation of the design. Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work illuminates the printmaker’s creative process by presenting over 150 prints from the National Gallery of Art’s exceptional holdings of preparatory drawings, states, progressive color proofs, and final prints.

Organized chronologically from the 17th century to the present, Tinker Tinker spotlights a wide range of etchings, woodcuts, lithographs, and other works that show how artists have embraced and explored the possibilities offered by the distinctive nature of printmaking. Featured artists include Rembrandt van Rijn, a groundbreaking printmaker whose 1656 etched copper plate is shown alongside two versions of the final print; Mary Cassatt, who drew inspiration from Japanese woodcuts to create an innovative series of color prints depicting the public and private lives of modern women in Paris; and Pablo Picasso, who expertly engaged with both representation and abstraction in his set of progressive proofs of The Bull  (1945–1946) to demonstrate the medium’s potential for experimentation through the addition and subtraction of visual elements.

Other highlights include a vibrant array of 26 versions of Jacques Villon’s La Parisienne (1902–1903), which showcases his evolving investigation of color and texture; a series Leonardo Drew made with the San Francisco-based printmaking workshop Crownpoint Press, in which he explored abstraction through unconventional techniques, such as applying egg white to his copper plates; and the lithographic stone Jasper Johns used to print one of his iconic images of the American flag. Accompanying video and interactive elements allow visitors to visualize, understand, and appreciate the various printmaking techniques represented in Tinker Tinker.

Exhibition and Organizational Support

Tinker Tinker: Printmakers at Work is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Leadership support for the exhibition has been generously provided by the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.

Exhibition Curator

Rena M. Hoisington, curator and head of Old Master and 19th-century prints, National Gallery of Art.
 

About the National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through its doors each year—with even more online— making it one of the most visited art museums in the world. The National Gallery’s renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.