Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Louis Wiesenberg Papers, 1913-1981, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.wiesloui
Creators:
Wiesenberg, Louis, 1893-1943
Dates:
1913-1981
Languages:
Collection is in English.
Physical Description:
0.6 Linear feet
Repository:
The scattered papers of Louis Wiesenberg measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1913-1981. Found are biographical materials, letters primarily from Louis' widow Raizel Wiesenberg, notes and writings, numerous drawings, printed material, and photographs of Wiesenberg, his family, and artwork.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The papers of painter Louis Wiesenberg measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1913 to 1981. Found within the papers are biographical material; letters - mostly written by his widow Raizel Wiesenberg attempting to organize a posthumous exhibition; notes and writings, including manuscripts describing Wiesenberg's thoughts on art; numerous drawings of figure studies and landscapes; printed material, including catalogs from exhibitions by obscure organizations such as the Level Club and the Society of Independent Artists; and photographs of Wiesenberg, his family and his artwork.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1916-1981 (Box 1; 1 folder)
  • Series 2: Letters, 1917-1981 (Box 1; 7 folders)
  • Series 3: Notes and Writings, 1939-1943 (Box 1; 4 folders)
  • Series 4: Artwork, 1927-1932 (Box 1; 19 folders)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, 1924-1944 (Boxes 1-2; 7 folders)
  • Series 6: Photographs, 1913-1973 (Box 2; 5 folders)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Louis Wiesenberg (1893-1943) was born in Poland and studied art in Montreal and at the National Academy of Design in New York. He settled in New York where he painted and drew. He later moved back to Montreal, but continued to exhibit in New York.
In 1909, Wiesenberg immigrated to Montreal, Canada, with his father and two sisters, leaving his mother and three other sisters in Poland until money could be sent for their passage. His father, who had studied painting in Paris, established a small paint shop in which Louis learned about paint, brushes, and other artistic tools.
After studying art at the Monument Nationale School in Montreal, Louis Wiesenberg continued his studies at the National Academy of Design in New York City in 1916. Following the death of his eldest sister in 1917, Wiesenberg returned to Montreal to assist in his father's business, but continued to exhibit his artwork in Montreal, Ottawa, and New York.
In 1922 Wiesenberg married Raizel, a singer, and they eventually settled in New York City. They befriended many artists, including Milton Avery and Mark Rothko. In 1928, a series of portrait drawings of authors by Wiesenberg was published in the Herald Tribune. He also worked at various art-related jobs including teaching art at a children's camp in order to make ends meet. During the Depression, Wiesenberg's health began to fail.
Louis Wiesenberg died on December 22, 1943 in New York City.

Administration

Author
Jean Fitzgerald
Provenance
The Louis Wiesenberg papers were donated in 1981 and 1982 by Raizel Wiesenberg Arp, the artist's widow.
Processing Information
The papers were processed in February 2007 by Jean Fitzgerald.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Louis Wiesenberg papers, 1913-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Restrictions on Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Writings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Society of Independent Artists (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Level Club Condominium (New York, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wiesenberg, Raizel Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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