Max Kuehne

American (1880-1968)

Born in Halle, Germany in 1880, artist Max Kuehne studied at William Merritt Chase’s school in New York under Chase, then Kenneth Hayes Miller and in 1909, was a pupil of Robert Henri. Chase and Miller helped to shape Kuehne’s technique, but Henri is believed to be the influence on the dark impressionistic style Kuehne favored early in his painting career. Kuehne’s travels served as his inspiration and, with each trip to England, Spain, Paris, Massachusetts and Maine, his style became brighter and more dynamic. In 1919, artist George Bellows convinced Kuehne to spend the summer painting life “in the raw” in Rockport, Maine. 

Kuehne exhibited his work at the National Academy of Design, Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Institute, Worcester Art Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, Whitney Museum of American Art and in various New York City galleries. Kuehne’s works are in the Detroit Institute of Arts, Whitney Museum, Los Angeles County Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Several of Kuehne’s Spanish landscapes are held in the Hispanic Society of America’s collection.