The Wolfsonian's holdings—including one of the largest university art collections in the U.S.—enhance understanding of the modern age, 1850 to 1950. Ranging from fine, decorative, and propaganda arts to graphic design, artifacts reflect the social, political, and technological changes that transformed the world during these pivotal 100 years and demonstrate the vital role that design plays in shaping perception.
The United States, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are the countries most extensively represented, with a smaller but significant number of materials from Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Japan, the former Soviet Union, Hungary, and beyond. Our more than 200,000 items include rare and reference books, ephemera, and archives from The Wolfsonian Library; works on paper such as posters, prints, and design drawings; furniture; paintings and sculpture; glass, textiles, ceramics, and lighting; and appliances.