Alfred H. Barr

1902 - 1981

country of citizenship: United States of America

languages spoken, written or signed: English

educated at: Harvard University, Princeton University, Boys' Latin School of Maryland

occupation: art historian, historian, university teacher, curator, art critic

award received: Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

position held: museum director

student of: Paul Joseph Sachs

Alfred Hamilton Barr Jr. (January 28, 1902 – August 15, 1981) was an American art historian and the first director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. From that position, he was one of the most influential forces in the development of popular attitudes toward modern art; for example, his arranging of the blockbuster Van Gogh exhibition of 1935, in the words of author Bernice Kert, was "a precursor to the hold Van Gogh has to this day on the contemporary imagination." Source: Wikipedia (en)