Max Jakob Friedländer

Max Jakob Friedländer was a renowned German-Jewish curator and art historian, specializing in Early Netherlandish painting and the Northern Renaissance. His career in the field began in 1891, when he volunteered at the Kupferstichkabinett Berlin under the guidance of Friedrich Lippmann. This initial experience laid the foundation for his future endeavors, and he soon caught the attention of Wilhelm von Bode, who appointed him as an assistant in the paintings division in 1896.

Friedländer's expertise and dedication earned him prominent positions, including deputy director of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum in 1904 and director from 1924 to 1932. During his tenure, he worked on seminal projects, such as his history "From Van Eyck to Bruegel" and the comprehensive 14-volume survey "Early Netherlandish Painting". However, his career was disrupted in 1933 when he was dismissed due to his Jewish heritage, and he was forced to relocate to Amsterdam in 1939. Despite these challenges, Friedländer had previously attained the distinguished title of geheimrat under the German Empire and had also made significant contributions to the art world as an advisor and donor, including working with notable figures like Hermann Göring.