Established in 1987 thanks to a gift from the Wallach family, The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs unites what had formerly been five separate departments under a single banner. Divisional holdings comprise works of art, pictures, ephemera, as well as reference materials on painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, photography, and the history of architecture from prehistoric times to the present. The Wallach Division also serves as the access point to the Spencer Collection of fine bindings and illustrated books and the Picture Collection, founded in 1915, which is organized by subjects depicted. Together, these collections include more than two million works of items in various mediums and formats, complemented by nearly 700,000 monographs and periodicals. The quality, depth, and scope of these holdings have earned the Wallach Division an international reputation among a broad variety of scholars and lovers of art.
About the Division
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We work with educators to design class visits that use the Library's remarkable collections to foster creative inquiry, build critical thinking and visual literacy skills, and inspire wonder and excitement around the process of primary source analysis and research. Learn more.
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Current Exhibitions
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The Skeleton Caricatures of Posada | Las meras meras calaveras de Posada
OngoingOnline OnlyStephen A. Schwarzman BuildingThis online exhibition presents a selection of Posada’s calaveras and announces the digitization of the entirety of the Library’s Posada… -
New York Subways 1977: Alen MacWeeney
Through January 6, 2024Stephen A. Schwarzman BuildingExplore subway scenes from 1977 through the work of photographer Alen MacWeeney.
