The Gravelines Museum of Original Drawing and Printmaking is the only French museum dedicated exclusively to the original print. It is located in a historic place: the former powder magazine of the arsenal castle built by the Spanish. The Museum was created on the initiative of the Gravelines Group founded in 1960 by artists Arthur Van Hecke, Jean Bertaux, Jean Castanier and Raymond Picque.
These founders wanted to recall the attraction of painters and artists for the city of Gravelines, first by organizing an exhibition once a year and then once every two years.
Dedicated to artists such as Marcel Gromaire and Eugène Leroy, these biennials, based on their success, gave the Municipality the idea of creating, in 1982, a new cultural institution: the Original Drawing and Printmaking Museum.
After crossing the Arsenal drawbridge, we discover the French-style gardens where several figurative sculptures (by Charles Gadenne, Rembrandt Bugatti and Georges Minne among others) have taken place.
The Museum's various exhibitions take place in 3 historical rooms:
Finally, the former guard house of the castle is the museum shop.
The museum's collections are made up of prints from the 15th to the 20th century. These rich collections include Dürer's Apocalypse (1471-1528), Balzac's Unknown Masterpiece illustrated by Picasso (1881-1973) and Marcel Gromaire's complete engraved work (1892-1971).
In total, the collection includes some ten thousand prints and artists' books.
To help visitors discover the world of engraving, the Museum organizes residencies and meetings with artists, demonstrations for all audiences, internships and guided family visits.
A dynamic and open programme that completes the work of making this cultural establishment, which has been certified as a Museum of France, a must.
Valérie from Comme des Français
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For other historical and immersive activities to do in Gravelines, discover our other stories:
