From the museum website
The degree of completion of a work of art is an especially complex and significant issue in the context of graphic art. By means of trial prints, which today offer valuable insights into the genesis of a work, artists not only supervised the progress of work on a certain printing plate, they were also inspired to experiment with the different ‘states’ of a print. The result was continual revision, and hence necessarily always ‘unfinished’ prints.
The Städel’s Department of Prints and Drawings is presenting an exhibition by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, consisting of valuable loans from America as well as works from its own holdings. Early copper engravings from the 15th century are followed by works by Goltzius, van Dyck, and an important group of etchings by Rembrandt. Furthermore, on display are prints from the Rococo, the late 18th century (Piranesi), and lastly, the 19th century with works by Meryon, Degas, Manet, Gauguin and Edvard Munch.