On Thursday, March 6th, 2025, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will open its doors to a major exhibition of original prints by the renowned artist, Rembrandt. Titled “Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White – Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum,” the exhibition showcases the artist’s mastery of printmaking and highlights his centuries-long impact on the field.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) produced over 300 prints in addition to his atmospheric paintings. This exhibition marks the first time this extensive collection of prints has been brought out of the Netherlands and is the only opportunity to see the exhibition in the UK.
Featuring 58 prints on loan from the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, alongside prints from Birmingham’s own collection, the exhibition also includes works from two Midlands-based artists, Harry Eccleston and Raymond Cowern. Like Rembrandt, both Eccleston and Cowern were skilled painters and printmakers.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Cowern created etchings of the Midlands countryside and Eccleston, who hailed from the Black Country, drew inspiration from the region’s industrial landscapes. Eccleston was also the first full-time banknote designer for the Bank of England, putting his art into the hands of the public.
Unlike many artists before him who primarily used printmaking as a means of reproducing existing compositions, Rembrandt valued it as an art form in its own right. This exhibition explores his strengths as an experimental etcher, showcasing his visual storytelling and focus on drawing from life.
It also delves into how Rembrandt became one of the most creative print artists of the 17th century and how his graphic work has served as a source of inspiration for artists in the centuries since. During the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to get up close to the prints with the aid of small magnifying glasses, allowing them to appreciate the intricate details of Rembrandt’s art.
Epco Runia, head of collections at the Rembrandt House Museum, said, “We at the Rembrandt House Museum are delighted to bring Rembrandt’s fascinating prints to Birmingham. With this exhibition, we hope to demonstrate that each of Rembrandt’s prints is a work of art in its own right. If you take the time to look at them closely, a whole world opens up to you: a world in black and white, but with enormous visual richness.”
Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, expressed their excitement about hosting this significant exhibition, saying, “We are delighted to be working with the American Federation of Arts and the Rembrandt House Museum to bring this important collection of Rembrandt’s etchings to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. We look forward to welcoming visitors for this exclusive opportunity to see such a significant collection in the UK.”
Pauline Forlenza, director & chief executive of the American Federation of Arts, said, “Touring Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White in collaboration with the Rembrandt House Museum, the only institution devoted entirely to the artist’s life and work, is an incredible honor. Our partnership with the Rembrandt House Museum will allow us to bring these momentous etchings out of the Netherlands for the first time as a collection, for the benefit of audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom so that they can experience Rembrandt’s work directly.”
Co-organised by the American Federation of Arts and the Rembrandt House Museum, the exhibition will be on display at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery until June 1st, 2025. Tickets are available for purchase on the Birmingham Museums website. This news story has been distributed by Pressat.