Pinkus (Gerhard and Marianne) papers, 1859-2005, bulk 1920s-1970s

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Summary

Title:
Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus papers
Dates:
1859-2005, bulk 1920s-1970s
Creators:
Pinkus, Gerhard and Pinkus, Marianne
Abstract:
Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus emigrated from Germany to Los Angeles in the 1930s and began to collect art in the 1940s. After accumulating a small collection of choice (and sometimes rare) finds, Gerhard and Marianne became a major force in the Los Angeles art world, especially in regard to their primary interest: Marc Chagall. Though they focused mainly on Chagall, the Pinkuses collected drawings, lithographs, and paintings by many other artists from various periods, with some emphasis on German Expressionism. In addition to Chagall's drawings, the Pinkus collection included works by Ernst Kirchner, Rico Lebrun, Gasparo Lopez, Theodore Chasseriau, Edouard Manet, Eugene Delacroix, Conrad Felixmuller, Paul Klee, Gerald Brockhurst, Eugene Carriere, Franz Marc, Charles Meryon, Henry Fantin-Latour, Christian Anton Laely, and Henri Matisse. The papers of Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus, 1859-1999 (bulk 1920s-1970s) document their art collecting activites, as well as their and their respective families' emigre experiences to the United States and South America.
Extent:
13.27 Linear Feet 23 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus papers, Collection no. 6122, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Background

Scope and content:

The papers of Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus, 1859-1999 (bulk 1920s-1970s) document the art collecting activites of the Pinkuses, and their and their respective families' emigre experiences to the United States and South America. Included are correspondences and financial documents regarding the purchase of various works of art, primarily those of Marc Chagall; letters, photographs, and official documents from both Marianne and Gerhard's childhoods and emigrations from Germany; and letters, photographs and official documents of various members of the Epstein (Marianne's family) and Pinkus families, including emigration documentation.

Biographical / historical:

Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus emigrated from Germany to Los Angeles in the 1930s and were married in Santa Monica in 1943. After establishing themselves as local business owners (they owned a furniture store), Gerhard began to collect art. He established relationships with collectors and gallery owners in Los Angeles and, gradually, throughout North America and Europe. After accumulating a small collection of choice (and sometimes rare) finds, Gerhard and Marianne became a major force in the Los Angeles art world, especially in regard to their primary interest: Marc Chagall. Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus were largely responsible for bringing Chagall's work to Los Angeles. In 1972, Gerhard collaborated with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to exhibit Chagall's early sketches. Gerhard worked doggedly to assemble a comprehensive exhibition of Chagall's drawings (up to 1930) from his own collection and through loans from private collections all over the world. Though they focused mainly on Chagall, the Pinkuses collected drawings, lithographs, and paintings by many other artists from various periods, with some emphasis on German Expressionism. In addition to Chagall's drawings, the Pinkus collection included works by Ernst Kirchner, Rico Lebrun, Gasparo Lopez, Theodore Chasseriau, Edouard Manet, Eugene Delacroix, Conrad Felixmuller, Paul Klee, Gerald Brockhurst, Eugene Carriere, Franz Marc, Charles Meryon, Henry Fantin-Latour, Christian Anton Laely, and Henri Matisse.

[Adapted from Laurel Schmuck, "Student Workers Reflect: Pinkus Papers," August 16, 2016, https://libraries.usc.edu/article/student-workers-reflect-pinkus-papers]

Acquisition information:
Gift of Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus Administrative Trust, July 18, 2016.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into three series. Within each series or sub-series, materials are generally arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Laurel Schmuck, Alyssa Beckner and Sue Luftschein
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2019-10-17 15:43:00 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder no. or item name], Gerhard and Marianne Pinkus papers, Collection no. 6122, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California

Location of this collection:
Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library, Room 209
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189, US
Contact:
(213) 740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Website