University of Pittsburgh Library System

Donald E. Gordon (1931-1984) was a German Expressionist art historian and professor at the University of Pittsburgh. During his career, he published several books and essays about modern art and expressionism, especially regarding Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Along with Thomas Maythem of the Boston Fine Arts Museum and James Demetrion of the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Norton Simon Museum), Gordon was the main advocate and planner for a 1968-1969 exhibition of Kirchner’s artwork - the first touring exhibit of his work in the United States. With the financial support of the German government, the over 100 artworks displayed made a significant impact with art critics, cultural connoisseurs, and the public. But how did this exhibit build Kirchner’s, and more broadly German Expressionism’s, reputation in America? Involving one of the trailblazers in German Expressionism - Gordon - in the development of the Kirchner exhibit was undoubtedly a wise choice. By having a forward-facing academic figure as one of the main proponents of the exhibit, the public is more likely to have a positive reaction to it. Moreover, the selection of Kirchner over other German artists is a tempting choice, especially for the German government. Since Kirchner passed away before the start of World War II, he is “innocent” from the negative perception that Americans had of Germany. Combining Kirchner’s distance from the war, Gordon’s expertise in the field, and an eccentric yet influential selection of museums for the exhibit, a star - Kirchner - was born in America.