Origins and History of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection
The Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection is an art museum located in Zurich, Switzerland. It was established in 1960 by the Bührle family to ensure that the private holdings of Emil Georg Bührle were made available to the public. This foundation was formed by Bührle's widow, Charlotte Bührle-Schalk, his son, Dr. Dieter Bührle, and his daughter, Hortense Anda-Bührle.
Emil Georg Bührle was a German-born industrialist who served as the head of Oerlikon-Bührle. During his lifetime, he acquired an extensive collection of European sculptures and paintings. The foundation was created to manage these assets and provide public access to the works. The collection currently comprises 205 works.
The Building and its Architecture
The Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection is housed in a villa located at Zollikerstrasse 172 in Zurich, Switzerland. This structure, which dates from 1886, was originally a residential property. It sits in a position adjacent to the former home of Emil Georg Bührle.
The building underwent a complete conversion to accommodate the collection. Following this transformation, the villa opened to the public in April 1960. The layout maintains the character of its domestic origins, with the collection installed within the former living spaces of the estate.
Masterpieces of the Collection
The holdings of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection represent a significant assembly of French Impressionism and modern art. The collection includes works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh. These paintings are held alongside pieces by Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. The selection also encompasses the works of Edvard Munch.
Beyond the Impressionist focus, the foundation maintains a range of European sculptures and paintings. This includes Old Masters and Gothic sculptures. The collection's breadth extends from these earlier traditions into the developments of the twentieth century. The presence of works by Picasso and Matisse provides a framework for understanding the shifts in visual language during this period.
- The Offering, 1902 - Paul Gauguin
- Girls putting flowers on their hats, 1894 - Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- Self-Portrait (13), 1888 - Vincent van Gogh
- Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from les Lauves, 1905 - Paul Cézanne
- The Suicide, 1880 - Édouard Manet
- Reclining Nude, Arms Folded under Her Head, 1916 - Amedeo Modigliani
Exhibitions and Research
The collection is currently displayed at the Kunsthaus Zürich through a long-term loan agreement established in 2022. This arrangement allows the works to be presented within the museum's facilities rather than in their original villa setting. The presentation follows a classic salon or ‘Petersburg’ hang, a method of display common in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, intended to provide a comprehensive view of the holdings.
A formal provenance research project was launched on 1 April 2026. This initiative is conducted in accordance with the high standards for provenance research set by the Zurich Art Society. The work is carried out in collaboration with the University of Zurich Department of Art History. This scholarly effort includes the systematic cataloguing and digitisation of the Foundation E. G. Bührle Collection’s archive.
The research focuses on the ownership history of the works from their creation to the present day. This investigation specifically addresses the colonial context, Nazi-era seizures, and the complexities of the Soviet occupation zone and the GDR confiscations. By examining these specific historical periods, the project seeks to clarify the movement and acquisition of the paintings within their broader social and political contexts.
Recent Projects
The Kunsthaus Zürich is currently conducting a five-year research project regarding the provenance of the 205 works within the Foundation E. G. Bührle Collection. This investigation is being carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Art History at the University of Zurich. The research aims to clarify the ownership history of the paintings held by the foundation.
The presentation of these works is undergoing a period of transition. An interim presentation is scheduled for 2026, which will utilize a visible storage format and a salon or Petersburg hang. This approach allows for a different way of viewing the collection's density and arrangement. A new main presentation is expected to open in 2027/2028.
