The Fascination of Paper:
From Tizian to Kiefer exhibition

Must see show: The Fascination of Paper: From Tizian to Kiefer exhibition at the Albertina Museum, Vienna

How many great works of art were produced on paper? Possibly more than you may think.

Paper has played a pivotal role in the development of art. Artists across the globe have used paper for everything from preliminary sketches to finished masterpieces. One gallery has decided to pay tribute to the artistic legacy of paper with a new exhibition that celebrates the possibilities offered by paper as a medium. 

The Fascination of Paper: From Tizian to Kiefer exhibition is being held at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria. Running from 11 December 2025 to 22 March 2026, the exhibition showcases works spanning from the 15th century to the present day. 

This exhibition is highly recommended for visitors of any age who wish to explore the versatility and significance of paper in art.

The Albertina Museum: A Legacy of Artistic Preservation

The Albertina Museum is one of Vienna's standout artistic destinations and houses one of the largest and most important collections of paper artworks in the world. The museum houses a collection comprising some 65,000 drawings and one million master prints. As well as historical artefacts, the Albertina also features modern graphic works, photographs, and architectural drawings.

The history of the Albertina Museum dates back to 1776, when it was founded by Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. The museum's Graphic Art Collection began with the acquisition of works from the late Gothic period. Over the centuries, the collection has expanded to encompass over one million drawings and prints. The Albertina is home to masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo, Dürer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Klimt, Schiele, Picasso, and Richter. Such a vast and impressive collection provides visitors with a panoramic overview of art history.

The museum’s commitment to preserving and showcasing the evolution of artistic expression on paper began with Duke Albert's vision, and continues to this day with the Fascination of Paper exhibition. 

Featured artists in The Fascination of Paper exhibition

Paper, torn, bracket made of metal and plastic 

The full list of works on display has not been released by the Albertina Museum at the time of writing. Going by the title of the exhibition, it can be expected that the list will also include works from Anselm Kiefer. At this stage, it is unclear what exact pieces will be exhibited. The museum has confirmed that many works by anonymous artists will be on display, including ‘The Girl in the Window’, which is believed to be the work of a German or Dutch artist from around 1590. 

As of now, we can confirm the exhibition will feature the following artists:

Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
The renowned Dutch master needs no introduction. In this exhibition, Rembrandt's ‘Self-Portrait with Eyes Wide Open’ (1630) is showcased. The work displays his ability to convey profound psychological depth through subtle lines and shading.

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)
A leading painter of the Venetian Renaissance, Titian’s intricate woodcut work, ‘The Submersion of Pharaoh’s Army in the Red Sea’, will be on display in the exhibition. This incredibly detailed depiction of a biblical scene is composed of twelve sheets and is believed to date from 1549. 

Birgit Knoechl
Knoechl is a Vienna-based artist who takes drawing into the realm of sculpture and installation. Her featured work in the exhibition is an immersive environment of black-inked paper cut-outs that sprawls across the gallery space.

Johanna Calle
Johanna Calle is a Colombian artist who works with drawing, archives, and language. The featured work, ‘Perimetros (Ceiba)’, consists of typed text on old notarial ledger paper. With this piece, Calle created a ceiba tree from old legal documents. The work is a contemplation on issues of land, ownership, and displacement in Colombia.

About the Fascination of Paper exhibition

Works on display at the Fascination of Paper: From Tizian to Kiefer exhibition are sourced from the Albertina Museum’s Graphic Art Collection, Architectural Collection, and its Collection of Contemporary Art.

The Albertina’s collection spans six centuries and includes masterpieces by Degas, Monet, Picasso, Cézanne, Klimt, Rubens, and other major artistic figures. The Fascination of Paper exhibition will feature an array of works from classical, modern, and contemporary artists. Museum representatives have stated that many of the artworks on display within the exhibition are very rarely shown to the public.

The exhibition highlights both the remarkable scope of the Albertina’s collection and the massive creative potential that paper offers as an artistic medium. It is a rare opportunity to view extraordinary works from the unique collection of one of the world’s great museums.