Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich
Switzerland's largest collection of art on paper in the ETH main building, with changing exhibitions and free admission.
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About the museum
The Graphische Sammlung was founded in 1867 as a classic study and teaching collection of the Federal Polytechnic. The archaeologist and art historian Gottfried Kinkel was to assemble illustrative material for aspiring art historians, archaeologists and architects; as a foundation, in 1870 he acquired around 11,000 single sheets and about 150 bound volumes of engravings from the estate of the painter Rudolf Bühlmann, who lived in Rome.
A decisive addition came in 1894 with the donation by the Zurich banker Heinrich Schulthess-von Meiss of more than 12,000 sheets from Schongauer to Goya; earlier, city councillor Johann Heinrich Landolt had bequeathed around 9,000 prints by old masters. At first the collection was open only to students in the study room; from 1891 it also showed several exhibitions a year to the general public. Since 1924 it has been housed in its present rooms in the south-west wing of the main building designed by Gottfried Semper.
Today the holdings comprise around 160,000 works on paper from the 15th century to the present, with a focus on old masters as well as Swiss prints and drawings of the 19th to 21st centuries. Around 100,000 works have now been digitised and can be searched online.
Highlights
- Switzerland's largest collection of art on paper (around 160,000 works)
- Works by Dürer, Rembrandt, Goya and Picasso through to contemporary positions
- Three to four changing exhibitions per year in the ETH main building
- Study room for originals (by prior appointment)
- Online collection catalogue and AR app
- Founded
- 1867
- Operated by
- ETH Zürich, ETH-Bibliothek
- Director
- Linda Schädler
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Private guided tour (60 minutes, per group) | CHF 180Up to 25 people in the exhibition, up to 15 people in the study room; foreign languages on request; free for schools and universities; surcharge outside opening hours. |
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Admission is free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
For people with reduced mobility, the main entrance of ETH at Rämistrasse 101 is the one to use; staff at the reception desk in the main hall accompany visitors to the exhibition from Monday to Friday (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), at weekends after a call to +41 44 632 21 35.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
ETH/Universitätsspital
From "Bahnhofstrasse/HB" take tram 6 or 10 to "ETH/Universitätsspital" (approx. 6 minutes); from "Bellevue" take tram 9 to "ETH/Universitätsspital"; take tram 3 to "Central" and from there the Polybahn to the Polyterrasse (approx. 8 minutes). A ticket for ZVV zone 110 is valid.
By car
Parking available
Public parking on Karl Schmid-Strasse; in the evening and at weekends, public parking in the underground car park in the ETH main building.
The rooms are in the south-west wing of the ETH main building (HG E 52) and are best reached via the side entrance on Karl Schmid-Strasse.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Private tours of the exhibition and the study room can be booked; there are also regular public tours and events such as "Kunst am Montagmittag" (Art on Monday Lunchtime). Tours are free for schools and universities. |
