Maniera through Modern Eyes: Georg Baselitz’s Collection in Budapest
Discover the fascinating world of Mannerist masters
If you love art that surprises, challenges convention, and reveals the beauty of imperfection, the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest has an exhibition you shouldn’t miss. Titled Through the Eyes of a Mannerist, the show presents around 150 works from the remarkable Mannerist print collection of Georg Baselitz — one of Germany’s most famous contemporary artists. On view until March 15, 2026, the exhibition brings together masterpieces by 16th-century artists such as Parmigianino, Andrea Schiavone, Hendrick Goltzius, and Lucas Cranach the Elder.
A bridge between centuries of creativity
Georg Baselitz is known not only for his monumental paintings and sculptures but also for his exceptional eye as an art collector. Since the 1960s, he has passionately sought out rare and unconventional Mannerist prints — works that often went unnoticed for centuries. This Budapest exhibition highlights Baselitz’s personal favorites, revealing how his own artistic vision resonates with the bold experimentation of Mannerism, a movement that once broke away from Renaissance harmony to embrace complexity, distortion, and expressive power.
The Museum of Fine Arts offers a unique curatorial dialogue between Baselitz’s private collection and its own renowned holdings of 16th-century prints. Visitors can explore both renowned masterpieces and hidden gems, many of which can be seen only in Baselitz’s collection or exist in just a few copies worldwide.
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Highlights not to miss
The exhibition features an extraordinary lineup of Mannerist printmakers and engravers whose works continue to inspire artists today:
- The Fontainebleau engravers such as Antonio Fantuzzi, Léon Davent, Geoffroy Dumonstier, and Juste de Juste, known for their sensual, elegant figures.
- Italian masters Parmigianino and Andrea Schiavone, whose works epitomize the inventive spirit of 16th-century Mannerism.
- Chiaroscuro woodcut pioneers including Ugo da Carpi, Antonio da Trento, and Domenico Beccafumi, famous for their skillful use of light and shadow.
- Northern European artists like Hendrick Goltzius, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Sebald Beham, and Hans Baldung Grien, whose prints reflect both technical brilliance and striking imagination.
Plan your visit
The Through the Eyes of a Mannerist exhibition is located in the ground floor graphics gallery of the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum), just beside Heroes’ Square – one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, accessible with a ticket to the museum’s permanent exhibitions.
Exhibition dates: Until March 15, 2026
Opening hours: The exhibition can be visited with a ticket to the permanent exhibitions and is only open from Thursday to Sunday, closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Consult the museum’s main page for more details on current opening hours.
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Heroes’ Square, Budapest
This exhibition offers an unforgettable cultural experience for art lovers visiting Budapest — a rare chance to see the Mannerist imagination through the eyes of one of the most influential contemporary artists of our time.