Museum Berggruen and the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection

CITY GUIDE BERLIN: MUSEUM BERGGRUEN/SCHARF-GERSTENBERG COLLECTION

Opposite Schloss Charlottenburg, two first-class Classical Modernist art collections compete for the public’s favor. In the western wing of the building by Stüler, the collection of art dealer Heinz Berggruen (1914-2007) is presented on three floors. The foundation of the collection is 100 works by Picasso from all his creative phases. There are 60 paintings by Paul Klee as well as half a dozen cutouts by Henri Matisse. The eastern wing of the building, also with three floors, and the stables are devoted to Surrealism, housing over 250 pieces which constitute the Scharf-Gerstenberg Collection. Almost all members of the group of Surrealists headed by André Breton, such as René Magritte, Max Ernst and Hans Bellmer, are represented here. Films by Bunuel as well as contemporary artists complete the collection.