Prints and Drawings Department
In the Prints and Drawings Department, you can find collections of prints, posters, photographs, postcards, artists’ books and archives, as well as documents from the Federal Archives of Historic Monuments relating to historic buildings, archaeological digs and the protection of built heritage and landscapes.
Using the Prints and Drawings Collection
Documents from the Prints and Drawings Department can be consulted free of charge.
Collections and archives
The Prints and Drawings Department of the National Library holds collections of prints, photographs, picture postcards, posters, editions and artists’ books as well as various artists’ archives from the 19th century to the present day.
Visual treasures
A look through archives of historic monuments, art, photos, prints, drawings and posters often reveals unseen delights. “Visual treasures” shows our best finds.
Current projects at the Prints and Drawings Department
Find out more about our current cataloguing and collaborative projects.
Events by the Prints and Drawings Department
The Swiss National Library stages periodic events focusing on the Prints and Drawings Department.
Publications of the Prints and Drawings Departement
Publications from the National Library’s Prints and Drawings Department.
Exhibitions by the Prints and Drawings Department
The National Library stages exhibitions presenting the Prints and Drawings Department to the public at large.
Mandate of the collection
The Prints and Drawings Department of the Swiss National Library collects the visual cultural heritage of Switzerland, focusing on the country’s landscapes and people, modern and contemporary artists’ prints and artists' books.
History of the Prints and Drawings Department
The history of the Prints and Drawings Department begins in 1895 with the foundation of the Swiss National Library. From the outset, its remit was to collect not just books but also image documents. Since 2007 they have been complemented by the collections of the Federal Archives of Historic Monuments.