The exhibition was inspired by a unique discovery made in an attic at the Cuypershuis. More than 350 stencils and design drawings from the workshop of the Netherlands’ most important 19th-century architect have seen the light of day again after 80 years. A wide selection of restored stencils and design drawings, created for decorations from various periods and styles, forms the central theme of the exhibition “Old Paper?”.
In addition to the findings of the research and the presentation of the most striking stencils and designs, “Old Paper?” also features an impressive ceiling decoration, film footage of both the restoration of a single stencil and clips from the restoration of the Rijksmuseum. The finale is a wall-spanning graffiti piece inspired by Cuypers’ stencil designs.