To honour the artist, draughtsman and etcher, so highly esteemed and admired over centuries, only the best by the master – HET BESTE VAN REMBRANDT – is exhibited. Marking the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the death of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606 –1669), the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München is staging a focused presentation of exquisite drawings and etchings from its own holdings. Rembrandt created more than 300 etchings in total between 1628 and 1661, covering a wide range of artistic themes. This selection of 30 outstanding sheets reveals Rembrandt’s versatility and technical brilliance as well as his love of experimenting. In addition, Rembrandt’s 16 Munich Drawings are on display – revering the artist’s masterly skill with pencil, pen and brush. These works helped him clarify his thoughts on the composition of his paintings and prints and in further developing certain motifs, as well as adding to his stock of examples.

Interacting with Rembrandt’s graphic works, the sound installation ‘Geduld’ (Patience) by Peter Piller (1968*) from 2019 will be played. Taken from different cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach and reassembled as an installation by the artist, the word ‘Geduld’ can be heard as a minimalistic word collage in all vocal timbres. As such, Piller opens the notion of patience to interpretation and projections, creating a tonal resonance chamber parallel to the conditio humana in Rembrandt’s graphic works.