Harry Kessler, le comte rouge : l'ami de Munch, Rodin, Maillol

A cosmopolitan figure by virtue of his Irish heritage and his upbringing in France, England and Germany, the German collector Harry Kessler (1868–1937) was at the heart of the artistic and political upheavals of the turn of the 20th century. A museum director, patron, publisher, writer and politician, he stood at the crossroads of aristocratic and intellectual circles and accompanied the emergence of modernity by forging close ties with major figures such as Rodin, Munch and Maillol. From Impressionism to Art Nouveau, Kessler accompanied and supported the avant-garde movements, making the preservation of a free cultural space a matter of both artistic and political importance. A fervent pacifist and a European ahead of his time, he campaigned for an ideal of peace underpinned by the free circulation of culture and ideas.

Richly illustrated, this book explores the breadth of Harry Kessler’s networks and commitments and invites readers to discover an iconic figure in European art, whose influence endures despite his exile in recent years.