Focused on the role of arts during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), this exhibition unravels the interplay between conflict and artistic expression, exploring art as a means of propaganda as well as a missive for peace. The show also delves into the investment the European ruling houses made into art during this period, despite ongoing war.

Two centuries of drawing come to life in this selection of 93 works, ranging from Pieter Bruegel's meticulous style to the swirling aesthetic of Peter Paul Rubens.

The museum has created a dialogue between the world of René Magritte (1898-1967) and the American artist Emilie Mae Smith (born in 1979). The result is 30 works that reflect Magritte's dark humor and feature an anthropomorphic broomstick figure which was based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1797 poem.