Collection inventory

Overview of the Collection
Creator:	Kuehne, Max, 1880-1968
Title:	Max Kuehne Papers
Inclusive Dates:	1912-1962
Quantity:	1 linear ft.
Abstract:	Papers of the German-American painter, etcher, and gesso artist; died 1968. Letters, sketches, photographs of Kuehne and his work, artwork reproductions, articles and reviews, clippings, exhibit catalogs, etc.
Language:	English
Repository:	Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Max Kuehne (1880-1968) was a German-American artist best remembered for his Impressionist style and vivid rendering of light and color. He practiced open air painting and created many cheerful landscapes.

Kuehne was born in Halle, Germany, in 1880. He moved to Flushing, New York, in 1894, and there grew to love the active, outdoor life, spending the summer months on the Hudson River swimming, rowing and sailing. He began formal art training at age 27 and studied with William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri, two prominent American painters. During this time, he learned the values and techniques of the Impressionist and Realist schools. After finishing his studies, Kuehne traveled Europe, exploring the continent on his bicycle. There, he absorbed the influence of many different artistic styles and techniques, from Fauvism to Cubism to the Old Masters.

After further travels, Kuehne set up a studio in Rockport, Massachusetts, and spent his summers in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. He maintained an active schedule, becoming something of a legend for his energetic pursuits: painting in the morning, swimming or sailing in the afternoon, then a lunch or picnic outside.

Kuehne appears to have been very hard hit by the Depression years. To make ends meet he developed a career creating decorative screens, panels, and furniture in gesso and silver leaf, skills he acquired while making his own frames. His athletic pursuits helped him live a long life and invigorated his painting, infusing his marine and boating subject matter with a dynamic energy.

Adapted from Artists of Cape Ann: A 150 Year Tradition by Kristian Davies

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

Spanning 1912 to 1962, the Max Kuehne Papers comprises biographical material, correspondence, artwork, writings, and memorabilia. The bulk of the consists of printed material relating to Kuehne's professional life.

Correspondence consists of eight incoming letters (1921-1923) from Albert C. Barnes pertaining to commissioned frames, chests, and cigarette boxes, as well as details for the construction of the Barnes Foundation picture gallery.

Artwork includes one original pencil sketch, four photographs of Kuehne's gesso work, and miscellaneous reproductions (1923-1937).

Writings contains a single item, a holograph manuscript describing a painting of Gloucester Harbor.

Memorabilia includes exhibition material, photographs of Kuehne and his dog, and printed material.

Printed material consists of articles and reviews (1912-1936), a book about Kuehne and his artwork by A. E. Gallatin, newspaper clippings (1913-1938), and exhibition catalogs and invitations (1918-1961).

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Arrangement of the Collection

The collection is arranged alphabetically by type or title.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Subjects

Genres and Forms

Occupations

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Max Kuehne Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Max Kuehne.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: ASE
Date: Dec 1993
Revision history: 13 Feb 2007 - converted to EAD (AMCon); 4 Jan 2019 - rehoused, inventory corrected (MS)

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Inventory

	Biographical material
Box 1		Miscellaneous

	Correspondence
Box 1		Barnes, Albert C. 1921-1923
			See also Artwork: Miscellaneous reproductions.
Box 1		Miscellaneous 1926

	Artwork
Box 1		Original sketch, pencil: "Three Trees, Toledo" undated
Box 1		Photographs of gesso work on furniture undated
Box 1		Miscellaneous reproductions 1923-1937 (5 folders)

	Writings
Box 1		Painting description, "Gloucester Harbor" undated - holograph ms.

	Memorabilia
Box 1		Award, Carnegie Institute exhibition, First Honorable Mention 1926
Box 1		Exhibition receipt, Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts 1960
Box 1		Photographs 1962 - Kuehne, dog on studio grounds
		Printed material
Box 1			Articles, reviews 1912-1936 (4 folders)
Box 2			Book, Max Kuehne / A. E. Gallatin (New York, N.Y.: E. P. Dutton & Company) circa 1924
Box 2			Clippings 1913-1938, undated
Box 2			Exhibition catalogs, invitations 1918-1927, 1929-1942, 1960, 1961, undated (6 folders)
				Several items from these folders have been transferred to Rare Books for cataloging. Please refer to Libraries Search and search on "max kuehne" to locate these items.

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