Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Study Room

The Worcester Art Museum's (WAM) Department of Prints, Drawings and Photographs (PDP) contains over 23,000 objects from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The American and European works range in date from the 14th to the 21st century. Areas of strength include color prints, British satirical prints, 18th and 19th-century American prints, and Abstract Expressionist prints. The Asian holdings' areas of strength include Edo period Japanese prints, particularly early ukiyo-e prints, and modern 20th century Japanese prints. There are also approximately 50 volumes of rare Edo and Meiji period illustrated books, and a small group of fine paintings and manuscripts from Iran (Persia) and Turkey from the 14th to the 19th century as well as Indian miniature paintings from the 17th to the 20th century representing most schools.

Because works on paper are sensitive to light, temperature, and humidity, these objects are not on permanent view. Visitors are invited to see these works in temporary exhibitions, or by special appointment in the PDP Study Room.

Scheduling and Preparing for Your Visit

The Worcester Art Museum welcomes guests to view its superlative collection of prints, drawings, and photographs. To make an appointment please send an email with preferred dates and times to the Assistant Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, Olivia Stone at: pdp@worcesterart.org.

The PDP Study Room is open to individuals and groups of 12 or fewer people by appointment from Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm pending staff availability. Larger groups will need to make additional arrangements to divide their group.

When scheduling your appointment, we kindly request that you do so at least 2 weeks in advance for groups of 5 or fewer and 3 weeks in advance for larger groups. Please also submit a list of your requested objects that includes the artist, title, date, and accession number to the Curatorial Assistant at least 10 days in advance of your visit.

Most of the Museum's collection is accessible through a collections search. If you cannot locate a particular object of interest, please contact our Curatorial Assistant, who will try to assist with your inquiry. However, given the significant number of requests we receive, the museum is unable to do extensive independent research on behalf of visitors or scholars.

Any requested objects for viewing are subject to the department's approval. Works that are oversized or fragile may be unavailable for display. If you are scheduling a class visit, please note that while WAM’s Curatorial Assistant will facilitate access to the collection, it is the instructor's responsibility to prepare the lecture related to the material requested.

Prior to Your Visit

We kindly request that you review the Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Study Room Guidelines.