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Finding aid created by: ASE
Date: Dec 1993
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| 13 Feb 2007 | converted to EAD (AMCon) |
| 4 Jan 2019 | rehoused, inventory corrected (MS) |
Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | Kuehne, Max, 1880-1968 |
| Title: | Max Kuehne Papers |
| 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 |
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
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).
The collection is arranged alphabetically by type or title.
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.
Persons
Barnes, Albert C. (Albert Coombs), 1872-1951.
Gallatin, A. E. (Albert Eugene), 1881-1952.
Kuehne, Max, 1880-1962.
Subjects
Art, American -- 20th century.
Etchers -- United States.
German Americans.
Gesso.
Painters -- United States.
Painting, American -- 20th century.
Genres and Forms
Articles.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Exhibition catalogs.
Photographs.
Sketches.
Occupations
Artists.
Painters.
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.
Biographical material
Correspondence
Artwork
Writings
Memorabilia
| 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. | |||||||||||