Carl Hagemann
Encyclopedia
Carl Hagemann was a German chemist, industrial manager and one of the most important German art collectors and patrons in the first half of the 20th Century.
, Hanover
and Leipzig
, and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig in Johannes Wislicenus
team. In 1894, he joined the Bayer color factories and made a career there. In 1920 he became technical director of the Cassella Farbwerke Mainkur Aktiengesellschaft in Frankfurt. Following their incorporation into the newly formed IG Farben
in 1925, he became a member of the Board. By the age of 65, he retired in 1932.
Around the turn of the century Hagemann started to collect art. His first collection objects were from popular graphics artists. In the second decade of the 20th Century, first under the influence of his friend Ernst Gosebruch, the director of the Essen Museum of Art, Hagemann turned toward painters of Die Brücke
and Emil Nolde
. He was a friend of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
, with whom he remained until his death in 1938.
In the course of four decades Hagemann put together a very personal collection of paintings, prints and sculptures. Significant high pictures of Kirchner's Berlin Street Scene (Neue Galerie New York).
After his accidental death in 1940, he left a collection of about 1900 art objects, including nearly a hundred paintings by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
, Erich Heckel
, Otto Mueller
, Emil Nolde
and others.
Since it was considered degenerate art
during the time of the National Socialist German Reich, Ernst Holzinger, then director of the Städel
, took a high personal risk, as he hid the entire collection in the Stadel. In this way, the collection survived the war largely unscathed.
Today, pictures from Hagemann's collection are mostly found in museums around the world and some of them are privately owned. The graphics and drawings were received as a gift by the Städel
in Frankfurt.
Life
Carl Hagemann grew up in a middle-class family in Essen, where he attended the humanistic Gymnasium am Burgplatz. He studied philosophy and chemistry from 1886 to 1890 in TübingenTübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
and Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig in Johannes Wislicenus
Johannes Wislicenus
Johannes Wislicenus was a German chemist, most famous for his work in early stereochemistry.-Biography:...
team. In 1894, he joined the Bayer color factories and made a career there. In 1920 he became technical director of the Cassella Farbwerke Mainkur Aktiengesellschaft in Frankfurt. Following their incorporation into the newly formed IG Farben
IG Farben
I.G. Farbenindustrie AG was a German chemical industry conglomerate. Its name is taken from Interessen-Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG . The company was formed in 1925 from a number of major companies that had been working together closely since World War I...
in 1925, he became a member of the Board. By the age of 65, he retired in 1932.
Around the turn of the century Hagemann started to collect art. His first collection objects were from popular graphics artists. In the second decade of the 20th Century, first under the influence of his friend Ernst Gosebruch, the director of the Essen Museum of Art, Hagemann turned toward painters of Die Brücke
Die Brücke
Die Brücke was a group of German expressionist artists formed in Dresden in 1905, after which the Brücke Museum in Berlin was named. Founding members were Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Later members were Emil Nolde, Max Pechstein and Otto Mueller...
and Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde was a German painter and printmaker. He was one of the first Expressionists, a member of Die Brücke, and is considered to be one of the great oil painting and watercolour painters of the 20th century. He is known for his vigorous brushwork and expressive choice of colors...
. He was a friend of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German expressionist painter and printmaker and one of the founders of the artists group Die Brücke or "The Bridge", a key group leading to the foundation of Expressionism in 20th century art. He volunteered for army service in the First World War, but soon suffered a...
, with whom he remained until his death in 1938.
In the course of four decades Hagemann put together a very personal collection of paintings, prints and sculptures. Significant high pictures of Kirchner's Berlin Street Scene (Neue Galerie New York).
After his accidental death in 1940, he left a collection of about 1900 art objects, including nearly a hundred paintings by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German expressionist painter and printmaker and one of the founders of the artists group Die Brücke or "The Bridge", a key group leading to the foundation of Expressionism in 20th century art. He volunteered for army service in the First World War, but soon suffered a...
, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff was a German expressionist painter and printmaker, and a member of Die Brücke.-Life and work:...
, Erich Heckel
Erich Heckel
Erich Heckel was a German painter and printmaker, and a founding member of the Die Brücke group which existed 1905-1913.-Biography:Heckel was born in Döbeln . His parents were born in Saxony...
, Otto Mueller
Otto Mueller
Otto Mueller or Müller was a German painter and printmaker of the Die Brücke expressionist movement.-Life and work:...
, Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde was a German painter and printmaker. He was one of the first Expressionists, a member of Die Brücke, and is considered to be one of the great oil painting and watercolour painters of the 20th century. He is known for his vigorous brushwork and expressive choice of colors...
and others.
Since it was considered degenerate art
Degenerate art
Degenerate art is the English translation of the German entartete Kunst, a term adopted by the Nazi regime in Germany to describe virtually all modern art. Such art was banned on the grounds that it was un-German or Jewish Bolshevist in nature, and those identified as degenerate artists were...
during the time of the National Socialist German Reich, Ernst Holzinger, then director of the Städel
Städel
The Städel, officially the Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, is an art museum in Frankfurt am Main, with one of the most important collections in Germany....
, took a high personal risk, as he hid the entire collection in the Stadel. In this way, the collection survived the war largely unscathed.
Today, pictures from Hagemann's collection are mostly found in museums around the world and some of them are privately owned. The graphics and drawings were received as a gift by the Städel
Städel
The Städel, officially the Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, is an art museum in Frankfurt am Main, with one of the most important collections in Germany....
in Frankfurt.