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Museums / Westerbork

Drenthe · Culture & daily life

Papierknipkunst: three centuries of drawing with scissors

In Westerbork, paper is not the support but the artwork itself. Dutch and international papercuts show how empty space, line and symmetry come together to form images.

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Old work, fine cuts

A papercut by Jan de Bleyker from around 1750 is regarded as an early museum piece. Look at where paper has been removed and how narrow links hold the remaining image together.

International forms

The art form is associated with China and Western Europe. Compare motifs and composition without assuming a single, linear story of origin; it is up to the gallery text to substantiate such historical links.

Try cutting yourself

Workshops and opportunities to make things turn looking into doing. Start simply with folding and a single repeated motif; that way you experience how each cut defines both shape and empty space at once.

Before you go

The listed schedule is Wednesday–Saturday 11:00–16:00. Guides mention different hours and prices; confirm these in advance. Groups of ten or more can arrange other times.

Sources

This first edition has been compiled from collected museum information. Not all of the information has yet been confirmed by the museum. Viewing tips are by the editorial team. The sources used are listed below.

  1. Research card 0297 — Museum van Papierknipkunst

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Unverified reference from a supplied research card; content, authority and currency still to be checked independently.

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