The Kandinsky Library

In charge of heritage collections, the Bibliothèque Kandinsky (Kandinsky Library) holds more than 18,000 printed works by major 20th and 21th century artists, testifying to the extension of artistic practices into the various forms of printed reproduction:

• books of prints with Marc Chagall, Sonia Delaunay, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso;
• artist's books with Marcel Broodthaers, Sophie Calle and Ed Ruscha;
• photographic albums with Brassaï, Germaine Krull and Man Ray;
• artist's reviews, like Francis Picabia's 391;
• also book-objects, as well as leaflets and posters.

The Bibliothèque Kandinsky also holds the Museum’s documentary collection. Inherently multidisciplinary, this exceptional body of material encompasses manuscripts, printed works, photographs, films and videos. International in scope, it comprises more than 300 archival collections reflecting the diversity of those who have contributed to the development of modern and contemporary art:

• Artists such as Constantin Brancusi and Vassily Kandinsky
• Architects and designers such as Jean Prouvé and Ettore Sottsass
• Photographers, filmmakers and video artists such as Marc Vaux and Harry Shunk
• Art critics and theorists such as Anne-Marie Duguet and Ida Gianelli
• Gallerists, booksellers and publishing houses, notably Cahiers d’art.

These remarkable holdings are complemented by documentary files compiled by the Kandinsky Library teams, covering nearly 13,000 artists, designers and architects represented in the Museum’s collection.

This ensemble is available to a specialist public of researchers, artists and professionals from the art world.

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