Gabriele Münter & Johannes Eichner Foundation

The Gabriele Münter & Johannes Eichner Foundation (German: Gabriele Münter- und Johannes Eichner-Stiftung) is a German non-profit foundation based in Munich. It was officially incorporated in 1966, four years after the death of the painter Gabriele Münter (1877–1962), and came into being in accordance with a testamentary bequest by Münter and her long-standing partner, the art historian and philosopher Johannes Eichner (1886–1958). The foundation's purpose is to keep and administer Münter's estate, including her artistic legacy and the historic Münter House in Murnau. The foundation traces its origins to the relationship between Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner, whom she met in Berlin in 1927. Eichner recognized her talent and researched and wrote about her art as well as about Wassily Kandinsky. In 1952 Eichner met Hans Konrad Roethel (1909–1982), the future director of the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich, and a close friendship developed. In 1956 Roethel became the first person to view the complete collection of Kandinsky and Münter pictures that Münter had hidden in the basement of her house in Murnau to protect them from the National Socialists. On the occasion of the artist's 80th birthday in 1957, Münter donated a major part of this collection to the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich. When Münter and Eichner decided to establish a foundation, they had the support of Hans Konrad Roethel; the foundation was to be incorporated as an independent institution upon Münter's death, with the goals of keeping and administering her priceless estate. Today the foundation operates the Münter House in Murnau, maintains a catalogue raisonné of Münter's work, supports research and publications, issues authenticity confirmations, and documents the worldwide presence of Münter's art. Its board includes Dr. Matthias Mühling as chairman, Dr. Hans-Werner Hürholz as deputy chairman, Beatrix Burkhardt as representative of the city council, and Alexander Farenholtz, with Dr. Tanja Pirsig-Marshall serving as curator and executive secretary and Dr. Isabelle Jansen as curator assistant.

The Gabriele Münter & Johannes Eichner Foundation was officially incorporated in 1966, four years after the death of the painter Gabriele Münter (1877–1962). It came into being in accordance with a testamentary behest of Gabriele Münter and her partner of long standing, Johannes Eichner (1886–1958). Gabriele Münter had met the art historian and philosopher Johannes Eichner in Berlin in 1927. He recognized her talent, and researched and wrote about her art as well as about Kandinsky. In 1952 Johannes Eichner met the future director of the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Hans Konrad Roethel (1909–1982). A close friendship developed and in 1956 Roethel became the first person to view the complete collection of Kandinsky and Münter pictures, which Münter had hidden in the basement of her house in Murnau to protect them from the National Socialists. On the occasion of the artist's 80th birthday one year later, in 1957, Gabriele Münter donated a major part of this collection to the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich. When they decided to establish a foundation, Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner had the support of Hans Konrad Roethel. The foundation was to be incorporated as an independent institution upon Münter's death, with the goals of keeping and administering her priceless estate. Today the foundation maintains the Münter House, a catalogue raisonné, research and publications, authenticity confirmations, and documentation of Münter's works worldwide.

• 1966

  The Gabriele Münter- und Johannes Eichner-Stiftung is officially incorporated, four years after Münter's death.

• 1957

  On her 80th birthday, Gabriele Münter donates a major part of her collection to the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich.

• 1956

  Roethel becomes the first person to view the complete collection of Kandinsky and Münter pictures hidden in Münter's Murnau house.

• 1952

  Johannes Eichner meets Hans Konrad Roethel, future director of the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus.

• 1927

  Gabriele Münter meets art historian and philosopher Johannes Eichner in Berlin.

Non-profit heritage foundation dedicated to preserving, researching, and authenticating the artistic legacy of Gabriele Münter and Johannes Eichner.

• Münter House (Münter-Haus)

  Historic house in Murnau associated with Gabriele Münter, maintained by the foundation.

• Catalogue Raisonné

  Scholarly catalogue of Gabriele Münter's works.

• Research & Publications

  Research and publications on Münter and related artists.

• Authentications

  Issuance of authenticity confirmations for works by Gabriele Münter.

1. 1Geschichtemuenter-stiftung.de
2. 2Historymuenter-stiftung.de
3. 3Gabriele Münter & Johannes Eichner Foundationwikidata.org