OSCAR BLUEMNER'S (1867-1938) art evolved directly from his painting diaries, which he kept from 1911 to 1936. Bluemner, who was trained in Germany as an architect, had an architect's penchant for planning. On his walking tours of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with his painting diary in hand, he made rough outlines of landscapes and plotted complex color arrangements. Each sketch from nature was Bluemner's blueprint of light, line, mass, shadow, and color. Later he embellished his books with additional studies and made extensive notes on his theories and observations. His diaries are evidence of his all-consuming commitment to aesthetic exploration. "One rule," wrote Bluemner, "draw and paint, equally, constantly, separately, thinking, feeling."*
* Painting Diary, 1911. Oscar Bluemner Papers, Archives of American Art, microfilm roll 339, frame 160.
Oscar Bluemner Painting Diary, 1916-1918, 8 x 12 in. Study for a self-portrait, ink on paper. Oscar Bluemner Papers, Archives of American Art.
Description of Oscar Bluemner's Papers |
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|---|---|
| CREATOR: | Bluemner, Oscar, 1867-1938. |
| TITLE: | Oscar Bluemner papers, 1888-1967. |
| PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: | 5.5 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 8 reels) reels N737 and 338-344 |
| BIO/HISTORICAL NOTE: | Painter; South Braintree, Mass. and Germany. Born in Germany and trained as an architect. Became a painter and moved to the United States in 1892. Became associated with the group of advanced artists associated with Alfred Stieglitz. |
| SUMMARY: | Correspondence, printed materials, exhibition catalogs, painting diaries, sketches, notes on painting, and photographs. |
| UNMICROFILMED: | Correspondence, between Bluemner and others, including a photocopy of a letter from Alfred Steiglitz; writings (some illustrated) by Bluemner in German and English concerning color and composition; annotated exhibition catalogs (with enclosures) including ALTMEISTER DEUTSCHER MALEREI, LOAN EXHIBITION OF ITALIAN PAINTERS, JAPANISCHE KUNST, and others concerning Chinese art; 29 drawings including 12 drawings of prints by Eishi, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi, Sharaku, and Shigenobu; printed materials; photographic contact sheets with 65 images of Bluemner's art work and one of him; and drawings and notes concerning cathedrals in Cologne, Germany. |
| REEL N737: | Correspondence, including letters to Bluemner from Edward Bruce, George F. Of, and Alfred Stieglitz; notes, draft articles and essays of thoughts on art by Bluemner; reviews; lists relating to Bluemner exhibitions; catalogs, including a copy of the 1916 Forum Exhibition catalog with manuscript and annotation and tipped-in notes; and clippings. Most of the material deals with Bluemner's activities from 1916-1935. |
| REELS 338-344: | Correspondence; extensive painting diaries; voluminous notes for a book on painting; sketches; notes; and studies; clippings; catalogs; legal documents; notes on European, Chinese and other paintings. In his diaries, he specifies the paints used on each canvas, details his technique for painting, writes of his philosophy of art, of his later alterations to earlier works, thoughts on form, color, line, creativity, experiments, palettes, the role of the artist. He analyzes his art, attitudes of others, his exhibitons, etc. His loose sketches, studies, and notes often contain similar remarks. Correspondents include Albert Rothbart and Aline M. Liebman, art collectors and patrons. |
| RESTRICTIONS: | Use of unmicrofilmed materials requires an appointment and is limited to Washington, D.C. storage facility. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm copy. |
| PROVENANCE: | Unmicrofilmed materials and materials on reels 338-344 donated 1970-1985 by John Davis Hatch, a close friend of Bluemner and an art historian. Materials reel N737 lent by Graham Gallery, 1968. |
| ADDITIONAL FORMS: | 35mm microfilm reels N737 and 338-344 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. |
| LOCATION OF ORIGINALS: | Reel N737: Originals returned to lender, Graham Gallery, New York, N.Y., after microfilming. |
