The Deutsches Kunstarchiv is the largest archive of primary documentation relating to German art and culture. The temporary emphasis lies on the late 19th century and the postwar era.

Contact with contemporary artists and scholars ensures the continued growth of the archive’s inventory. With 2.8 kilometres of shelving, the archive is home to more than 1,400 holdings.

The holdings cover the fine arts in German-speaking regions, with a focus on hand- and typewritten manuscripts as well as personal documents such as letters and professional records of the careers of artists and art historians.

In addition to gathering and preserving artists’ and art historians’ estates to catalogue and make publicly available, the Deutsches Kunstarchiv is actively engaged in researching its own holdings as the basis for exhibitions, publications and lectures.