Pieter Bruegel the Elder is one of the most important Dutch draftsmen in the world. The Albertina is dedicating a comprehensive exhibition to him.

The drawings and graphic prints by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (around 1525/1530-1569) are among the most valuable objects owned by the Albertina. Based on these works, the exhibition "Bruegel. Drawing the world" presents the full range of his drawings and graphic prints. Furthermore, his artistic origins are highlighted by comparing high-ranking works of important predecessors such as Hieronymus Bosch or Albrecht Dürer. A total of 90 works are on display. The exhibition casts light on Bruegel's importance as a "painter of farmers", as an innovator of landscape art and as a sociocritical satirist.

That's because Pieter Bruegel the Elder designed a complex world of imagery in an age of political, social and religious upheaval on the cusp of the Dutch war of independence against its Spanish rulers. Humorous and down to earth, witty and critical was how he reflected social circumstances. Bruegel's drawings were already highly prized during his lifetime. Many were widely disseminated as templates for copper etchings.

Bruegel. Drawing the world, 8 September - 3 December 2017
www.albertina.at