The exhibition Hello Darkness my Old Friend at the Kunsthal Rotterdam shows 70 works on paper from the collection of the Leiden University Libraries. In seven themes, this exhibit explores the dark side of European (art) history.

The theme Death comes for us all deals with the inevitable human demise and the prominent role death plays in art history. Religious depictions of Judgement Day, the Apocalypse, and hell are brought together under the title Biblical hellscapes. These works played a crucial role in the propagation and reinforcement of the Christian faith, especially at a time when many people were still unable to read.

The theme Nightmares and Visions focuses on dreamlike and surreal depictions of the subconscious: from a fight between a jug with legs and a little headless man on a barrel in the water, to horrific plagues and monstrous figures. The fact that artists found inspiration in the collective fear and fascination for the supernatural can be explored in Magic and Witchcraft. Brooms, revolting potions, and mystical rituals are featured in the prints of artists like Pieter Bruegel the Elder (ca. 1525-1569).

Despite their dark connotations, many of the works also contain humorous elements, resulting in an interesting paradox, which is shown in the works combined under the titles Everyday life at its strangest and Allegorical madness.