Weekend of Graphics 2024

The Graphic Collection of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna preserves around 100,000 inventory numbers of drawings, prints and photographs from various epochs of art history from the 14th century to the present day. These works of art are very sensitive to light, which is why they are rarely seen in public and are usually kept in storage. Therefore, the Weekend of Graphics – an initiative in Germany, Austria and Switzerland since 2009 – focuses on these very “shy” works on paper.

The Collection of Historical Photographs

Graphic Collection of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna holds more than 24,000 photographs, including around 15,000 historical prints, mainly from the 19th century. As early as 1854, the Academy began to systematically acquire photographic prints. While the original intention was to support teaching and use it as illustrative material for artists, the collection was increasingly forgotten from the 1920s onwards and was only gradually rediscovered by photo historians in the past two decades. The study hall tour invites you on such a journey of discovery through the beginnings of the photography collection and selected collection focuses.

Guided tour (in German) with René Schober, Head of the Graphic Collection

Venue: Study hall (in the basement), Schillerplatz 3, 1010 Vienna

Limited number of participants, registration required at +43 1 58816 2401 or kupferstichkabinett@akbild.ac.at , guided tour free of charge, duration approx. 1 h