Discover an extraordinary collection of art on paper. The MFA’s holdings of prints and drawings are among the richest in the nation. With works from Europe and the Americas that range from the 15th century to today, the collection tells the story of creative printmaking and draftsmanship in many forms. Highlights include works on paper by iconic figures such as Dürer, Goya, and Cassatt, as well as unexpected areas of depth: a major gathering of rare books, one of the world’s finest collections of postcards, and works by Boston-area artists including Allan Rohan Crite, Blanche Lazzell, Michael Mazur, and John Wilson. In recent years, the Department of Prints and Drawings has committed itself to presenting narratives, creative voices, and perspectives traditionally underrepresented at the MFA, among them women and LGBTQIA+ artists, Black artists and artists of color, self-taught and folk artists, and Indigenous and Latin American artists.
The Morse Study Room
The Morse Study Room for Works on Paper provides access to the MFA’s collections of American and European prints, drawings, and photographs. The Study Room is open for individual study and groups of up to 15 people, including college classes. Available windows for individual and class appointments are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 am–12 pm and 1:30–4 pm.
Object selection, to be made in advance in consultation with a staff member, should include no more than 20 objects (or fewer, depending on fragility and size). Please allow four weeks lead time for individual appointment requests, and six weeks for classes.
Please e-mail Meghan Melvin at mmelvin@mfa.org to schedule an appointment to view works in the Department of Prints and Drawings.
Please e-mail Anne Havinga at ahavinga@mfa.org to schedule an appointment to view works in the Department of Photography.