Finding Aids to the Institutional Records of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the VMFA Archives | Records of the Fischer Collection RG-31
Record Group 31 (RG-31)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Archives
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Business Number: 804-340-1495
library@vmfa.museum
URL: https://vmfa.museum/library/special-collections-archives/
Courtney Tkacz, VMFA Archivist; Finding aid encoded by Sylvio Lynch III, Archives Intern (2020)
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Custodial History
The collection was artificially created by the VMFA Archives in February 2016.
Preferred Citation
Records of the Fischer Collection (RG-31). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.
Historical Note
Ludwig and Rosy Fischer acquired examples of German Expressionism between 1905 and 1925 and their collection included works by artists who were key figures in the Die Brücke movement: Max Beckmann, Peter August Böckstiegel, Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmüeller, Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Emil Nolde. Die Brücke ("the Bridge") was a pivotal movement within German Expressionism, comprised of artists who responded subjectively to the changing world around them. Their style was defined by vivid colors, strong lines, and distorted forms—characteristics that have come to symbolize German Expressionism as a whole.
The Fischer's collection was divided evenly between their sons, and after Ernst and his wife, Anne, left Germany and settled in Richmond, Virginia, their half of the collection was preserved for more than 70 years in their home. In 2009, the Fischer Collection became the last refugee collection of German Expressionism to enter a U.S. museum when it was acquired by VMFA through a gift-purchase agreement with Ernst's widow, Anne Fischer.
Source: German Expressionist Work is Reunited with Ludwig and Rosy Fischer Collection at VMFA
Scope and Contents
The collection's inclusive dates are 1967-2013, with the bulk of the material dating from 1985-1987. The collection is comprised of correspondence, memorandums, clippings, publicity, copies of photographs and slides and other ephemeral material.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into seven series, and items are generally arranged chronologically within each series.
- Series 1
- History Files, 1986-2013
- Series 2
- Director's Files, 1984-2004
- Series 3
- Collections Files, 1985-1998, undated
- Series 4
- Registration Files, 1987-1989
- Series 5
- Marketing and Communications, 1995
- Series 6
- Collectors' Circle Files, 1987
- Series 7
- Exhibition Files, 1967-1987, undated
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Art -- Private collections -- Germany
- Art -- Private collections -- Virginia -- Richmond
- Art, German -- 20th century
- Expressionism (Art) -- Germany
- Fischer, Anne, 1902-2008
- Fischer, Ernst, 1896-
- Fischer, Ludwig, 1860-1922
- Fischer, Rosy, 1869-1926
- Prints -- Private collections -- Virginia -- Richmond
- Simon, Hermann, 1900-1990
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Related Materials: VMFA Library - Rare Books
These titles belonged to Ludwig and Rosy Fischer, and were donated to the museum in December 1995 by Anne Fischer.
J. B. Neumanns Bilderhefte, 19--?Max Liebermann: Mit einem Porträt nach einer Photographischen Aufnahme und Vierzig Tafeln mit 100 Abbildungen nach Gemälden, Zeichnungen und Radierungen, 1906?
Hans von Marées: Sein Leben und Sein Werk, 1909
Fritz Boehle, 1909
Noa Noa, 1912
Auguste Rodin die Kunst: Gespräche des Meisters, 1913
Handbuch der Kunstgeschichte, 1915
Hiob: Ein Drama, 1917
Genius: Zeitschrift für Werdende und Alte Kunst, 1919-1921
Archipenko-Album, 1921
Das Egon Schiele Buch, 1921
Neben der Heerstrasse, 1923
Umbra Vitae: Nachgelassene Gedichte, 1924
Dei Graphik Ernst Ludwig Kirchners bis 1924, 1924-1926
Kirchner-Zeichnungen: 100 Tafeln und Zahlreiche Holzschnitte im Text, 1925
Kommende Baukunst, 1926
Das Werk Ernst Ludwig Kirchners, 1926
Related Materials: VMFA Library - Catalogs
E.L. Kirchner: German Expressionist: A Loan Exhibition, 1958German Expressionism, Die Brücke: Paintings, Prints and Watercolors from the Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Ernst Fischer: University of Virginia Art Museum, 1978
Conrad Felixmüller, 1897-1977: Prints and Drawings from the Collection of Dr. Ernst and Anne Fischer, 1979
The Passionate Collectors: Ludwig and Rosi Fischer and German Expressionism: Essays, 1985
German Expressionist Art: The Ludwig and Rosy Fischer Collection, 1987
Expressionismus und Exil: Die Sammlung Ludwig und Rosy Fischer, Frankfurt am Main, 1990
Related Materials: VMFA Library - Exhibition Files
German Expressionist Art: Selections From The Ludwig And Rosy Fischer Collection, 1987German Expressionist Art: Selections from the Fischer Collection, 2010
Related Materials: VMFA Library - Subject Files
VMFA Donors: Fischer FamilyVMFA Collections: Special Collections: Fischer, Ludwig and Rosy: German Expressionist Art
Related Materials: Virginia Holocaust Museum
Fischer Family Papers, 1900s-2009 (Record Group 23)Related Materials: Leo Baeck Institute
Guide to the Papers of Anne Fischer, 1884-1982 (Coll. No. AR 10519/MF 992)Related Materials: Library of Virginia
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Exhibition Files, 1986-1987 (Coll. No. 34679)Container List
This series is comprised of correspondence about the ongoing search for the Fischer family archives as well as documentation of the extensive gift of library books from Ernst and Anne's private library collection in 1995. In addition, there are DVD copies of three oral history/interviews conducted with the Fischer family over the past 30 years: Anne Fischer with Fred Brandt, February 2, 1986; Anne Fischer with Fred Brandt, October 7, 1994; George Fischer and Eva Fischer Marx with John Ravenal and Sarah Eckhardt, June 5, 2013.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 1 Item: RG31.01.0.001 RG31.01.0.001
Fischer Archives, 1989-20051989-2005English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 2 Item: RG31.01.0.002 RG31.01.0.002
Fischer Gifts to Library, 19951995English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 3 Item: RG31.01.0.003 RG31.01.0.003
Oral Histories/Interviews, 1986-20131986-2013English
- Mixed Materials RG-31 Box 1 folder: RG31.01.0.004 RG31.01.0.004
Whereabouts Unknown: Living an Artful Life in a Ruthless World2009
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records of Directors Paul Perrot (1984-1991) and Michael Brand (2000-2005) related to the 1987 exhibition of the collection and later correspondence with Anne. Restricted documents from those files were not copied. Permission from the Director or Archivist is required to view restricted documents.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 4 Item: RG31.02.0.001 RG31.02.0.001
Paul Perrot: Exhibitions: Fischer Collection 1987, 1987-19911987-1991English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 5 Item: RG31.02.0.002 RG31.02.0.002
Paul Perrot: Exhibitions: Fischer Collection 1987, 1984-19871984-1987English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 6 Item: RG31.02.0.003 RG31.02.0.003
Michael Brand: Fischer, Anne, 2001-20042001-2004English
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records of Assistant/Associate Curator Ashley Kistler (1987-1998) mainly related to the 1987 exhibition of the collection. Other restricted files from the Collections Department (RG-03) were not copied. Permission from the Director or Archivist is required to view restricted documents. Additional files related to the Fischer collection are still held by the Collections Department and include information about appraisals, publication history, 1987 exhibition, 1994 interview, and correspondence with Hermann Simon. Permission from the Department is required to view these documents.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 7 Item: RG31.03.0.001 RG31.03.0.001
Ashley Kistler: German Expressionist Works from the Fischer Collection, 1985-19871985-1987English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 8 Item: RG31.03.0.002 RG31.03.0.002
Ashley Kistler: Fischer Prints, 1985-19981985-1998English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 9 Item: RG31.03.0.003 RG31.03.0.003
Ashley Kistler: Fischer SlidesundatedEnglish
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records of Affiliate Loans related to the 1987 exhibition of the collection. Additional files related to the Fischer collection are still held by the Registration Department. Permission from the Department is required to view these documents.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 10 Item: RG31.04.0.001 RG31.04.0.001
German Expressionist Art: Selections from the Ludwig and Rosy Fischer Collection, 1987-19891987-1989English
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records related to publicity about the donation of the collection.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 11 Item: RG31.05.0.001 RG31.05.0.001
Fischer Collection, 19951995English
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records related to a declined invitation to Ernst Fischer to participate as 1973 Collector of the Year, as well as events honoring Anne Fischer in connection with the 1987 exhibition.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 12 Item: RG31.06.0.001 RG31.06.0.001
1971-1972 Season, 19721972English.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 13 Item: RG31.06.0.002 RG31.06.0.002
1986-1987 Season, 19871987English
This series is comprised of copies of files from the records of Curator/Curatorial Chair Frederick Brandt (1984-1996) related to the 1987 exhibition of the collection. The original material is located at the Library of Virginia. Proofs of the catalog and exhibition labels were not copied, as well as multiple copies of checklists. Other restricted files from the Exhibitions Department (RG-23) were not copied. Permission from the Director or Archivist is required to view restricted documents.
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 13 Item: RG31.07.0.001 RG31.07.0.001
Fischer Collection: Correspondence, 1967-19861967-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 14 Item: RG31.07.0.002 RG31.07.0.002
Fischer Collection: Home Collection, Frankfurt, Germany, 1977-19851977-1985English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 15 Item: RG31.07.0.003 RG31.07.0.003
Fischer Collection: Mrs. Ernst Fischer Interview, February 6, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 16 Item: RG31.07.0.004 RG31.07.0.004
Fischer Collection: Simon, Fischer, Brandt Meeting, April 7, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 17 Item: RG31.07.0.005 RG31.07.0.005
Fischer Collection: Correspondence, 19851985English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 18 Item: RG31.07.0.006 RG31.07.0.006
Fischer Collection: Correspondence, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 19 Item: RG31.07.0.007 RG31.07.0.007
Fischer Collection: Correspondence, 19871987English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 20 Item: RG31.07.0.008 RG31.07.0.008
Fischer Collection: Correspondence with Eleanor Hight, 1985-19861985-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 21 Item: RG31.07.0.009 RG31.07.0.009
Fischer Collection: Publications/Translations, 1985-19861985-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 22 Item: RG31.07.0.010 RG31.07.0.010
Fischer Collection: Catalogue Correspondence, 1985-19871985-1987English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 23 Item: RG31.07.0.011 RG31.07.0.011
Fischer Collection: Master List, 1981-19861981-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 24 Item: RG31.07.0.012 RG31.07.0.012
Fischer Collection: Lists of Works, 1985-19861985-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 25 Item: RG31.07.0.013 RG31.07.0.013
Fischer Catalog: Text and Footnotes, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 26 Item: RG31.07.0.014 RG31.07.0.014
Fischer Catalog: TextundatedEnglish
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 27 Item: RG31.07.0.015 RG31.07.0.015
Fischer Collection: Installation, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 28 Item: RG31.07.0.016 RG31.07.0.016
Fischer Collection: Interview, February 6, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 29 Item: RG31.07.0.017 RG31.07.0.017
Fischer Collection: Dinner/Event, 19861986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 30 Item: RG31.07.0.018 RG31.07.0.018
Fischer Collection: Loan to Allegheny Highlands Arts and Crafts, 1985-19861985-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 31 Item: RG31.07.0.019 RG31.07.0.019
Fischer Collection: Framing, Conservation, Invoices, 1985-19861985-1986English
- mixed materials RG-31 Box 1 Folder 32 Item: RG31.07.0.020 RG31.07.0.020
Fischer Collection: Articles / Research (Note: copied title pages only)undatedEnglish