Städel Museum
June 18 to September 20, 2026
Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1526/30–1569) is one of the most outstanding artists of 16th-century Dutch art. His works transport viewers into a fascinating world of humorous imagery and enigmatic motifs. Known primarily as a painter today, he made a name for himself early on as a designer of prints.
The Städel Museum's exhibition "Bruegel. Printed" brings together around 45 exceptional prints based on Bruegel's drawings. They reveal him as a unique inventor and distinctive storyteller: his subjects range from expansive landscapes to secular and religious symbols and scenes of everyday life.
Bruegel's works were created in close collaboration with the Antwerp publisher Hieronymus Cock and his wife Volcxken Diericx. They convey a vivid impression of the artist's unique visual world, which unites observation and imagination. Drawing on his predilection for the intricate, grotesque motifs of Hieronymus Bosch and his broad knowledge of pictorial and motif traditions, he developed new forms of representation for traditional themes. His compositions, often employing exaggeration, elicit laughter from the audience while simultaneously prompting reflection. Bruegel addresses human weaknesses and injustices, alludes to the grandeur of nature, and focuses on everyday interactions. To this day, his works offer surprisingly relevant perspectives on fundamental questions of human values.
The Städel Museum's presentation begins with Bruegel's prints from its own collection, of which approximately 30 are on display. This selection is complemented by loans from the Albertina in Vienna and the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München (State Graphic Collection Munich).
In addition, the exhibition features two paintings by his son, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, as well as further prints from the Städel Museum's impressive collection of Dutch prints, including works after Frans Floris, Lambert Lombard, and Raphael.
The exhibition is made possible by the support of the Städel Museum Association.
Philipp Demandt , Director of the Städel Museum, on the exhibition: “With our exhibition on Bruegel’s prints, the Städel once again opens its doors to the extraordinary treasures of its Graphic Collection, which, with around 100,000 drawings and prints from the late Middle Ages to the present day, is one of the most important collections of its kind in Germany. Visitors are invited to embark on an impressive journey of discovery through Bruegel’s multifaceted visual worlds, full of narrative power, subtle observations, and surprising details.”
Astrid Reuter , head of the graphic arts collection up to 1800 at the Städel Museum: “Bruegel’s pictorial inventions were already extremely popular during his lifetime. They not only served as entertainment but also formed the subject of scholarly discussions. The special appeal of his works arises from the interplay of naturalism, inventiveness, and humorous exaggeration. Appreciated as imaginative inventions and critical reflections on human values and behaviors, they continue to invite discovery, reflection, and even laughter.”
Curator: Dr. Astrid Reuter (Head of the Graphic Collection up to 1800, Städel Museum)
