What secrets lie hidden in centuries-old drawings? How can we make these silent masterpieces speak? And how can we distinguish between originals and copies? These and other exciting questions will be answered in Cologne from 14 November 2025 in the exhibition ‘Expedition Drawing – Dutch Masters under the Magnifying Glass’. With this exhibition, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum is presenting the astonishing results of a research project lasting several years for the first time. Experts examined almost 850 drawings from the 15th to 18th centuries under the magnifying glass and microscope.
With a total of 90 works by masters such as Rembrandt, Rubens and Goltzius, visitors can journey through the fascinating world of Dutch drawing until 15 March 2026. The ‘Expedition Drawing’ blazes trails through uncharted territory, reveals discoveries and tells the fascinating stories behind the works. The palette of varied and colourful drawing art ranges from stamp-sized studies to furiously sketched drafts. The exhibition also displays the appropriate ‘equipment’ for such an intensive journey of exploration and asks about the right path: did the experts perhaps get lost at times, or do all paths lead to the goal?
