4078450Vladimir Visson Papers4078450Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Butler Library, 6th FloorColumbia University, Mail Code 1127535 W. 114th St.New York, NY 10027Business Number: (212) 854-5153Fax Number: (212) 854-1365rbml@libraries.cul.columbia.eduURL:

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This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-07-10 20:27:50 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.appm07/16/2020PDF finding aid converted to EAD and AS record updated by KSD. Bio note written by Tanya Chebotarev. Rare Book and Manuscript Library Vladimir Visson Papers Visson, Vladimir, 1904-1976 4078450 BAR Ms Coll/Visson English . /repositories/2/resources/2277 1050 items 5 manuscript boxes 1946-1986 Restrictions on Access

This collection is located on-site.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

Papers: Source of acquisition--Visson, Lynn. Method of acquisition--gift; Date of acquisition--02/05/88. Accession number--B-88-9-14.

 Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series. Selected materials cataloged; remainder arranged.

 Biographical sketch

Vladimir Visson (1904-1976), American art dealer and curator, was born Vladimir Akivison (Akivisson) in Kiev. His father was a shipping magnate who had made his fortune trading with Denmark and Germany. In 1919, the Akivisons family left Russia and after long journey via several European countries they finally settled down in Paris. Vladimir graduated from Russian gymnasium and studied art history in Sorbonne and politics and economics at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques.

 Biographical / Historical

In the early 1930s, he found a job as a film producer working with such stars as Jean Gabin and Danielle Darrieux.

 Biographical / Historical

He immigrated to the United States in the early 1940s and became an art dealer in New York. He legally changed his last name to Visson in 1946.

 Biographical / Historical

From 1942 until his retirement in 1974, Vladimir Visson was director of exhibitions for the Wildenstein Galleries in New York.

 Biographical / Historical

150 exhibitions he organized at Wildenstein's, especially those of the Impressionist and Post‐Impressionist painters, rivaled those of the major museums, and many of the catalogues he produced have become permanent works of reference.

 Biographical / Historical

He was a true cosmopolitan, spoke four languages and was admired by his colleagues, clients, and friends.

 Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Lynn Visson (Vladimir Visson's daughter) 1988.

 Processing Information

Papers Processed ejs D-B-Coll-14 04/--/88.

 Summary

Correspondence, manuscripts, photographs, drawings and subject files primarily relating to Vladimir Visson's years as exhibitions director of the Wildenstein Gallery. The extensive subject files concern the Hallmark Art Award and exhibitions Visson mounted for the Wildenstein Gallery including shows on Gauguin, Pissarro, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Van Gogh. Also included are Visson's original manuscripts on Russian painters and autobiographical writings. There is correspondence from artists including Eugene Berman, Amédée Ozenfant and Eugene Speicher, and authors such as John Gunther, Paul van Zeeland and Louis Auchincloss.

 Restrictions on Access

This collection has no restrictions.

 Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Vladimir Visson Papers, Box and Folder; Bakhmeteff Archive, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

 Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

 Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York Art, French Impressionism (Art) Drawings (visual works) Photographic prints Wildenstein and Company (New York, N.Y.) Auchincloss, Louis Berman, Eugene, 1899-1972 Bernays, Edward L., 1891-1995 Gunther, John, 1901-1970 Ozenfant, Amédée, 1886-1966 Rockefeller, David, 1915-2017 Speicher, Eugene Edward, 1883-1962 Zeeland, Paul van, 1893-1973 Tarkovskiĭ, Andreĭ Arsenʹevich, 1932-1986 Series I: Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223752Scope and Contents

Series organized in two subseries: Cataloged correpospondence and Arranged correspondence.

Subseries I.1: Cataloged correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223753Scope and Contents

(Correspondence with prominent persons)

Auchincloss, Louis/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237541Berman, Eugene/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237551Bernays, Edward L./repositories/2/archival_objects/12237561Gunther, John/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237571McCann, Kevin/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237581Ozenfant, Amédée/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237591Rockefeller, David/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237601Speicher, Eugene/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237611Van Zeeland, Paul/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237621Subseries I.2: Arranged correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223763Scope and Contents

(General correspondence)

A - Z/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237641Series II: Manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223765Scope and Contents

Series includes manuscripts by Andrei Tarkovskii and Vladimir Visson.

Subseries II.1: Cataloged manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223766Tarkovskii, Andrei Arsen'evich. Primechaniia/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237671Subseries II.2: Arranged manuscripts/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223768Scope and Contents

(Contains Visson's original manuscripts on Russian painters and autobiographical writings)

Visson, Vladimir/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223769"Common Ground"/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237701"Fair Warning"/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237711Lectures, Notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237721Profiles of Russian Painters/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237732Miscellaneous/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237741Series III: Photographs and Drawings/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223775Arranged photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237762Arranged drawings/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237772Series IV: Subject Files/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223778Scope and Contents

Subject files include material on the Hallmark Art Award and exhibitions Visson mounted for the Wildenstein Gallery including shows on Gauguin, Pissarro, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and Van Gogh.

Hallmark Art Award/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223779Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237802Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237812Miscellaneous notes/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237822Clippings in English and French/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237832Wildenstein Family/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237842Wildenstein Gallery Exhibits/repositories/2/archival_objects/1223785100 years of Impressionism/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237863Child Through Four Centuries/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237873Corot/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237883Courbet/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237893Daumier/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237903Delacroix/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237913Gauguin/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237923Ingres/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237933Masterpieces of French Paintings/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237943Monet/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237953Pissarro/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237963Renoir/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237974Stravinsky/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237984Toulouse-Lautrec/repositories/2/archival_objects/12237994Van Gogh/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238004Miscellaneous art photos/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238014List of exhibitions/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238025List of collectors/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238035List of patrons/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238045Masterpieces catalogue/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238055Press releases and programs/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238065Clippings in English and French/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238075Printed materials/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238085Miscellaneous/repositories/2/archival_objects/12238092