Sven Kuhrau Books

Berlin, once a hub of art collectors, faced significant challenges post-1945 due to the impacts of National Socialism, war, and division, hindering the development of a robust private collector culture reminiscent of the Imperial era. Art collectors were pivotal in transforming the city from a political and economic center into a vibrant art metropolis with far-reaching influence. While the Imperial period is often idealized as a Golden Age of bourgeois patronage, this study offers a nuanced perspective on the cultural engagement of the elite. It explores the diverse motivations behind the art interests of business leaders, nobility, artists, Jewish citizens, and previously overlooked female collectors. By analyzing cultural and literary texts, the study reconstructs the role of collectors within Imperial society. Numerous interior photographs of private collections revive a bygone era, serving as keys to understanding the tastes and self-conceptions of collectors. The comparison reveals both conventional standards and innovative deviations in artistic taste and interior design. Ultimately, it was the dynamic of "fine distinctions" that allowed a collector culture, initially focused on traditional art, to embrace works by modern masters like Manet, van Gogh, and Cézanne, with collectors' interiors playing a crucial role in the shift from historicist to modern design principles.