Devoted entirely to graphic art, Museum De Reede in Antwerp is an unusual private museum built around prints, drawings and etchings rather than paintings. Set on the Ernest van Dijckkaai along the River Scheldt, a short walk from the old town, it opened in 2017 to give this often overlooked branch of art a dedicated home in the city. The permanent collection centres on three giants of printmaking. There are works by the Spanish master Francisco Goya, including his unsettling series on the horrors of war and human folly, by the Norwegian Edvard Munch, whose anxious, expressive imagery extends far beyond his famous scream, and by the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, with his lithographs of Parisian nightlife. By focusing on graphic media, the museum reveals a side of these artists that is sometimes hidden behind their paintings, showing how etching, lithography and drawing allowed them to explore darker, more intimate or more experimental themes. The intimate scale of the works invites close, careful looking. Temporary exhibitions broaden the programme, introducing other printmakers and themes, so the museum offers more than its permanent stars, and its riverside location places it among the historic sights of central Antwerp. Quieter than the city larger institutions, it suits visitors who appreciate art on paper and want a focused, contemplative experience away from the crowds drawn to the cathedral and the Rubens collections. For those interested in the expressive power of the print, Museum De Reede offers a rare concentration of masterworks by Goya, Munch and Toulouse-Lautrec, a thoughtful counterpoint to Antwerp grander museums and a reminder that some of the most powerful images in art were made not in oils but in ink. The museum opens through the week with tickets sold online or at the door, and its modest scale makes for a focused visit of an hour or so, well suited to those who prefer quiet, contemplative galleries. Its riverside location on the Scheldt, a short walk from the cathedral, the Grote Markt and Het Steen, places it conveniently within the historic centre, so it is easy to add to a day exploring the old town and the renovated quays of Antwerp.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Ernest van Dijckkaai 7, Antwerp, Belgium

Telephone: +32 3 257 11 20

Website: https://www.museumdereede.com

Opening Date: 01/01/2017