Archive

The Historical Archive of the Hamburger Kunsthalle (HAHK) preserves administrative records and further material linked to the activities of the Hamburger Kunsthalle since its opening in 1868. A huge part of these archival fonds is built by the correspondences of the first two directors Alfred Lichtwark and Gustav Pauli.

Complementary available are several collections: press cuttings, printed matter and posters, the image archive as well as video and audio material documenting exhibitions and events of the museum. An extensive collection of historical artwork reproduction photography, maps and plans on the Kunsthalle buildings as well as collected materials of people and other institutions closely linked to the Hamburger Kunsthalle build a further part of the archival material.

Besides the adequate preservation the Historical Archive is considered with the professional cataloguing and provides its archival fonds for the research of art historians as well as the general public.

As archive of a foundation under public law (»Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts«) we adapt our actions in accordance with Hamburg Archives Law (HmbArchG). 

Up to today the archive was supported by Georg Wilhelm Claussen, Eitner Haus, Blankenburg'sche Hamburg-Stiftung, Freunde der Kunsthalle e. V.,  Kunst- und Literaturstiftung Petra und K.-H. Zillmer, Koordinierungsstelle für die Erhaltung des schriftlichen Kulturguts (KEK) .
 

Publications

Documents from the Historical Archive are frequently requested, cited in scientific publications and featured in exhibitions.

Selection of literature:

• Anita Rée: Retrospektive / edited by Karin Schick on commission of the Hamburger Kunsthalle; Christoph M. Vogtherr
Kongress: Exhibition Anita Rée. Retrospektive; (Hamburg): 2017.10.06-2018.02.04. - Munich [2017]https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=885134583

• Beer Carl Heine - Mäzen der ersten Stunde: Stiften, schenken, spenden / by Ute Haug; with a contribution from Sylvia Steckmest; printed on commission of the Freunde der Kunsthalle; Hamburger Kunsthalle. - Hamburg [2016]
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=857464922

• Lichtwark revisited: Künstler sehen Hamburg: Karl Albrecht, Pierre Bonnard, Lovis Corinth… / Hubertus Gaßner, Ute Haug, Merle Radtke, Petra Roettig (eds.)
Congress: Exhibition Lichtwark revisited – Künstler sehen Hamburg; (Hamburg): 2014.05.23-09.14. – Hamburg [2015]
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=846677091

• Nolde in Hamburg / edited by Karin Schick, Christian Ring and Hubertus Gaßner – Munich, London, New York [2015]
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=824383885

• Oscar Troplowitz: ein Leben für Hamburg; [... released on occasion of the exhibition »A Life for Hamburg. Oscar Troplowitz«, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 18 January to 30
June 2013] / Hamburger Kunsthalle. [Eds. Leonie Beiersdorf; Christine Claussen] – Ostfildern 2013
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=726500895

• Max Liebermann: Briefe. Compiled, edited and commented by Ernst Braun – Baden-Baden 2011
https://kataloge.uni-hamburg.de/DB=3.4/XMLPRS=N/PPN?PPN=04361485X

Reproductions

Upon consultation with the staff, you may take photos for private purposes with a personal camera (without a flash). Due to legal and conservational reasons some documents may be excluded from this regulation.

Reproductions for publication or commercial purposes may be ordered via the picture agency: Bildagentur Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte (bpk) in Berlin. Here, the general terms and conditions of the picture agency will apply.

Business records of the Hamburger Kunsthalle

Correspondence of the directors 

• Lichtwark, Alfred (1886-1914) (The correspondence of Alfred Lichtwark is not available for reasons of conservation.)
• Pauli, Gustav (1914-1933)
• Heise, Carl Georg (1945-1955)
• Hentzen, Alfred (1955-1969) 
• Hofmann, Werner (1969-1990)

Administrative Records

• Art collection (Acquisitions and offers, Gifts and legacies, Conservation, Sales, Loans)
• Exhibitions and events
• General matters
• Finances and invoices
• Buildings
• Personnel matters
• Cooperation with associations and further institutions
   

Posters and printed matters
Finding aid for the posters of our past exhibitions (1964 to 2019)

Archival Collections

• Collection of press cuttings
  Finding aid for the press cuttings 
• Collection of architectural plans
• Audio-visual collection
• Bequests and other collections on individuals and institutions
• Collection of reproduction photography
  Finding aid for the collection of reproduction photography

Image Archive