Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection

Originally, the collection was housed in a villa at Zollikerstrasse 172 in Zurich, a property dating from 1886 that was adjacent to Emil Bührle's former residence. The building was converted into a museum and opened in 1960, undergoing comprehensive renovations in 1976. Due to security concerns following a major armed robbery in 2008, the museum at Zollikerstrasse closed in May 2015, as it could not be equipped with the necessary security measures for regular public access. In 2021, the collection moved to the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed in the new extension designed by architect David Chipperfield. This modern facility provides the necessary security and space for the collection's presentation, with a long-term loan agreement signed in 2022.

The collection comprises 205 works and is renowned for its exceptional quality in French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Key holdings include masterpieces by Paul Cézanne, such as 'The Boy in the Red Vest' (1894/1895), and works by Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh. Notable pieces include Monet's 'Poppies near Vétheuil' (1879) and Van Gogh's 'Blossoming Chestnut Branches' (1890), both of which were stolen in 2008 and later recovered. The collection also features works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Édouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Beyond French modernism, the holdings include Dutch 17th-century paintings, Venetian Old Masters, and a significant group of Gothic wooden sculptures, reflecting Bührle's diverse interests.

The Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection is one of the most important private art collections in Switzerland, yet it is inextricably linked to the controversial history of its founder. Emil Bührle amassed his fortune through arms dealing, selling weapons worth 623 million francs to Nazi Germany, which enabled the acquisition of his art collection. The collection has faced scrutiny regarding the provenance of its works, with accusations that some pieces were looted from Jewish owners during the Nazi era. This led to the publication of 'The Bührle Black Book' in 2015, which called for investigations into these gaps. The foundation has since engaged in extensive provenance research, publishing ownership histories online and acknowledging the historical entanglements as an integral part of the collection's narrative.

Since October 2021, the collection has been presented at the Kunsthaus Zürich in a 'salon-style' or 'Petersburg' hang, a display method common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring approximately 115 to 205 works depending on the period. The presentation includes an archive display documenting the collection's exhibition history and public reception. The long-term loan agreement, valid until at least 2034, mandates that the Kunsthaus display the collection as a single entity and undertake ongoing provenance research. The foundation's legacy is marked by its role in shaping the appreciation of French Impressionism in Switzerland, despite the complex ethical questions surrounding its origins. Future presentations, planned for 2027/2028, aim to further contextualize the collection within its historical and social framework.