Masters on Paper — 15th Century to Present
Drawings & Prints
Dürer's precision engravings, Rembrandt's nocturnal etchings, Goya's nightmarish aquatints, and Michelangelo's preparatory figure studies — five centuries of art on paper.
Explore Drawings & Prints from The Met — free, no account needed
Start Drifting — Drawings & PrintsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art holds one of the world's great collections of drawings and prints, spanning from the Renaissance through the 21st century. The collection includes approximately 12,000 drawings and 1.5 million prints — an extraordinary breadth of graphic art history.
Among the highlights are preparatory drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael; engraved masterpieces by Albrecht Dürer; etched plates by Rembrandt van Rijn; Los Caprichos and Disasters of War by Francisco de Goya; and a sweeping collection of 20th-century prints by Matisse, Picasso, and Warhol.
Works on paper occupy a special place in art history — they offer an intimate view of artistic process, showing the freshness of first ideas together with the technical virtuosity of finished printmaking.
What You'll Discover
Dürer's Engravings
Albrecht Dürer's Melancholia I, Knight, Death and the Devil, and Saint Jerome — the supreme achievements of Northern Renaissance printmaking.
Rembrandt Etchings
Rembrandt's self-portraits, biblical narratives, and Amsterdam street scenes — etched with a freedom and tonal richness unmatched in printmaking history.
Goya's Prints
Los Caprichos, the Disasters of War, and the Tauromaquia — Goya's aquatint series are among the most powerful works in the entire print tradition.
Renaissance Drawings
Studies in chalk, pen, and silverpoint by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and their contemporaries — drawings that shaped the development of Western art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which drawings and prints does the Met hold?
The Met holds approximately 12,000 drawings and 1.5 million prints, including works by Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Matisse, Picasso, and hundreds more — spanning the 15th century to the present.
Can I view Dürer prints from the Met online?
Yes. Museum Drift streams public domain works from The Met's Drawings & Prints collection for free, including Dürer engravings, Rembrandt etchings, and much more.