MUNICH.- The Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen houses the largest collection of paintings by Max Beckmann in Europe. Since 1977 they have also included the Max Beckmann Archiv, the largest specialist library, document and photo collection on Max Beckmann and his social circle.

“We have decided to help consolidate the Beckmann Archive in Munich with material still in the family as it has been at the centre of research on Beckmann for many years.” Mayen Beckmann

The Max Beckmann Archiv has been grateful to Mayen Beckmann, the artist’s granddaughter, for her generous gifts, donations and support over many years. Mayen Beckmann has now made a significant contribution to the expansion of the already comprehensive archival holdings to include outstanding new material. With the gift of important archival material from the estate of Max Beckmann, his first wife Minna Beckmann-Tube, his second wife Mathilde Q. Beckmann, his son Peter and his daughter-in-law Maja Beckmann, the Max Beckmann Archiv – a research institution that is unique in this form within the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen – has once again been substantially expanded.

The gift that, in future, will be known as the ‘Nachlässe Max Beckmann’ (Max Beckmann Bequest) primarily comprises invaluable autographic material from Beckmann, including more than 100 letters and cards, contracts, settlements made with art dealers, hand-written notes, plays and drafts for plays. Part of the gift includes four of Beckmann’s sketchbooks, his diaries from 1903 to 1941 and a ‘list of paintings’ compiled by the artist himself.

Letters from people with whom Beckmann was in contact provide an insight into contemporary historical events, his relation to dealers, questions of provenance and the creation of his works.

Family-related papers, personal documents such as passports, driving licences and travel documents are also part of the gift as are emigration papers and the long-awaited ‘non-enemy’ declaration of 1946 that finally restored the artist’s freedom of movement after years in exile.

Central to the bequest is Max Beckmann’s own library, comprising more than 650 volumes, many of which include commentaries written in the artist’s own hand. Beckmann’s private photo albums and more than 850 other original photographs are also included.

In addition to the archival material there are also objects once owned by Max Beckmann, including painting utensils such as palettes and easels, as well as objects familiar from his still lifes: ethnographical items, vases and candlesticks, among others.

This major new acquisition makes fundamental source material available for research on Beckmann and opens up new possibilities. At present the holdings are being indexed and therefore will not be immediately accessible to the public. In the long term, the detailed recording, publication and digitalisation of the extremely fragile documents – many of which are in need of restoration – are planned; infrastructural prerequisites for these measures have already been made.

“With this bequest we aim to consolidate the Max Beckmann Archiv so that, from a staffing and material point of view, it remains able to preserve the archival material over a long period, to make it accessible to scholars and to initiate new research and exhibition projects – a role that the family can and should no longer have to play in the fourth generation.” Mayen Beckmann

Bernhard Maaz, the Director General of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, would like to express his most sincere gratitude to Mayen Beckmann for this marvellous gift and the substantial and long-term enrichment of the Max Beckmann Archiv.