Van Vleck Curator of Works on Paper – The Chazen Museum of Art


The Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeks an energetic and engaged professional for the position of Van Vleck Curator of Works on Paper. The curator is responsible for the development and management of the Chazen Museum of Art’s extensive collection of prints, drawings, and photographs. This collection includes the renowned John H. Van Vleck collection of Japanese woodblock prints. The Curator will conduct research into the museum’s collection of prints, drawings and photographs which is expected to result in special exhibitions and the regular publication of scholarship.

In consultation with the Director and the Assistant Director for Collections and Exhibitions, the Van Vleck Curator for Works on Paper will be responsible for developing an acquisition policy in the area of prints, drawings and photographs and will assist in identifying appropriate additions to the collection.

In cooperation with other museum staff members, this position has responsibility for the physical management of this portion of the collection, to include advising on preservation concerns and exhibition conditions.  This position plays an active role in institutional conservation planning.

The Curator will also be required to maintain regular contact with collectors, donors, and professional colleagues and assist in developing funding proposals for acquisitions, exhibitions, or other special projects in his/her area. The Curator will teach courses, give gallery talks, and other lectures of general interest. The individual will mentor, teach and guide the work of student employees.

Qualifications: MA in Art History or closely related field required; PhD preferred; At least 5 years of curatorial experience in an art museum preferred, specifically in the area of prints, drawings, and photographs. A record of scholarly and general interest publication is preferred. Active participation in the field through professional organization membership and conference panel presentation is expected. Specialization in, or a developing knowledge of, 17th-19th century Japanese woodblock prints, or the ability to use them for comparative purposes, is preferred.  Reading proficiency in language relevant to specialization is preferred.

For more information and application: http://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/cw/en-us/job/500024/van-vleck-curator-of-works-on-paper

About the Collection: With more than 11,000 objects, the works on paper collection is a substantial resource at the Chazen. Supporting an active exhibition program, a dedicated study room provides public and scholarly access.

The print collection surveys European works from the mid-1400s to the present, American works from the late 1700s to the present, and Japanese works from the 1700s to the present. French prints in the collection include nearly 900 works by Honore Daumier. Works from Germany, Austria and the Netherlands are strong from 1500-1700, with exceptional impressions of great prints. Also included is a nearly complete selection of prints by William Hogarth, and an excellent set of Francisco Goya’s Caprichos. Numbering approximately 4,000 works, holdings in Japanese prints consist of color woodcuts from Edo in the 18th and 19th century and Tokyo from the early 20th century. Prints by Hiroshige, with more than 2,000, are a particular strength. The Chazen also has a strong representation of works by Wisconsin printmakers, including works from the faculty of the University of Wisconsin and many of the printmakers working around the state since the 1920s. As the archive for Tandem Press, the museum houses hundreds of works by a broad range of contemporary artists.

The museum’s collection of drawings and watercolors has an exemplary selection of British watercolors that provides breadth and variety, from large high-finished works to intimate studies and sketches. Indian miniatures are comprehensively represented in the Jane Werner Watson collection. With the Lane Collection, the museum has a large number of drawings by mid-20th century sculptors. The photography holdings have been greatly enhanced by the Baker/Pisano collection, which provide historical background to a collection dominated by the photographers of the mid-20th century.

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