The origins of the museum date back to 1894, when Michael H. de Young, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, organised an exhibition of treasures from around the world as part of the California Midwinter International Exposition. The success of the exhibition inspired de Young to create a permanent museum, which was initially housed in an Egyptian-style building.

In 1924, the museum was moved to a new Spanish Plateresco-style building, which became a landmark in Golden Gate Park. Unfortunately, the building was severely damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and eventually closed to the public. The modern de Young Museum building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, opened in 2005. Its copper façade, inspired by the hills of San Francisco, and its observation tower, offering panoramic views of the city, have become symbols of the museum and an integral part of the San Francisco skyline.

Collections of the de Young Museum

The de Young Museum is renowned for the diversity of its collections, which include American art from the 17th century to the present day, a collection of international art, Native American art, African art and oceanic art. Clothing and other textiles are also an important part of the collection. The collection of Native American art in the United States includes sculptures, costumes, ceramics, jewellery and textiles from various cultures and historical periods. The collection of African and Oceanic art showcases the diverse artistic traditions of these regions. The exhibits include masks, sculptures, weapons, jewellery and everyday objects. The collection of American art at the de Young is one of the most highly regarded in the country. It includes works ranging from colonial portraits to contemporary installations. The museum features works by artists such as John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keeffe, John Singleton Copley, Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol. A significant part of the collection consists of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, which document the development of American art in the context of European influences. The museum also has an impressive collection of Californian art, including works by artists from the Bay Area Figurative Movement. In contrast, the textile collection at the de Young is one of the richest and most diverse in the world. It consists of more than 13,000 objects, including historic and contemporary textiles, clothing, rugs and embroideries from around the world. Of particular note here are the Pre-Columbian textiles, which provide a unique record of the technology and aesthetics of the ancient civilisations of South America.

International collection and works by Polish artists

The collection of international art includes works by European, Asian and Latin American artists. Among them are works by such masters as: El Greco, Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera.

Polish art, above all Polish posters, is also represented quite numerously in the collection - this collection consists of 84 works by artists such as: Andrzej Pągowski (6 works), Henryk Tomaszewski (5 posters), Waldemar Świerzy (25 posters), Janusz Czerniawski (4 posters), Roman Cieślewicz (9 posters), Maria Ihnatowicz (1 poster), Edward Dwurnik (3 posters), Jan Młodożeniec (2 posters), Franciszek Starowieyski (19 posters), Jan Lenica (10 posters).

In addition, the museum's collection includes a painting by Józef Chełmoński entitled "Horse Market in Russia" from 1878, an anonymous print depicting Jan Zamoyski, a collection of nine prints by Feliks Jasiński, three prints by Stefano della Bella, an etching by Daniel Chodowiecki, Aleksander Orłowski's 'Fantasies' from 1819 and 'Kalmyk Rider' from 1820, Mickun's bust of a Polish peasant woman, a drawing by Tamara Łempicka. Contemporary art, apart from posters, is represented by works by Magdalena Anakanowicz - 'La Rouxe Eclatée' made in 1966 and the sculpture 'Camminando (Brown Walking Figures)' from 1998-1999.

Catalogue

Magdalena Abakanowicz
"Camminando (Brown Walking Figures)", 1998-1999, bronze
"La Rouxe Eclatée", 1966, hand-woven and dyed sisal, wool and cotton fibres; tapestry weave, 142 x 244 cm
https://www.famsf.org/art-finder?artist=9659

Anonymous
Graphic depicting Jan Zamoyski, inv. no. 1963.30.21842
https://www.famsf.org/artworks/john-zamogski-of-poland

Józef Chełmoński
"Horse Market", 1878, oil on canvas, 63.5 x 152 cm, inv. no. 43632
https://www.famsf.org/artworks/russian-horse-fair

Roman Cieślewicz
"Aida", 1966
"Circus", 1966
"The Miraculous Mandarin", 1965
"Fabulazione", 1984
"Harnasie", 1972
"Jan Maciej Karol Wscieklica", c. 1980
"My Old Man", 1962
"Szewcy", 1971
"Behind the Scenes", 1958

Janusz Czerniawski
"Drama Unrecognised", 1978
"Dostoevsky according to the Brothers Karamazov", 1979
"Index", 1980
"Samuel Zborowski", 1981

Edward Dwurnik
"Cowshed" 1983
"An Old Woman Sits Up" 1978-1985
"Villa of Mysteries" 1979

Stefan della Bella
"Polish Officer", etching

Maria Ihnatowicz
"The Girl with Green Eyes" (poster for the Polish version of the English film directed by Desmond Davis), 1976

Feliks Jasiński

"Flemish interior according to G. Coqves", 1885, etching, size: 21 x 27 cm
See more https://www.famsf.org/search?q=jasinski&type=artworks

Jan Lenica
"Faust", 1964
"Husband and Wife", 1977
"Julisz Słowacki", 1978
"The Youth of Maxim", 1956
"Polish Surrealist at Charlottenburg", 1970
"The Grand Theatre (Alban Berg Wozzeck)", 1964
"The Happy Event", 1974
"The Visit", date unknown
"Ubu Roi", 1978
"Variations on a Theme by Purcell", 1971
https://art.famsf.org/jan-lenica

Mika Mickun
"Head of a Polish Peasant Woman"
https://www.famsf.org/artworks/head-of-a-polish-peasant-girl

Aleksander Orłowski
"Fantasies", 1819
"Kalmyk Rider", 1820

Andrzej Pągowski
"King of Lir", 1983
"Miarka za Miarka", 1982
"Not such a devil as they paint him", 1982
"Fiddler on the Roof", 1978-1985
"Swierzy", 1977
"The Smile of the Wolf", 1982

Franciszek Starowieyski
"Aleksander Fredro (1793-1856)", 1978
"Aristophanes the Frogs", 1972
"Beyond the Reality", 1978-1985
"Don Juan", 1983
"Frank V"
"Golem", 1979
"Harold Pinter, Lover, Light Bol, Drama Theatre, Prob Hall", 1970
"Illumination", 1973
"King of the Mardi Gras", 1971
"Portrait of Dorian Gray (The Picture of Dorian Gray)", 1976
"Death of the Lieutenant (The Death of the Lieutenant)", 1963
"Starowieyski Posters", 1985
"Theatre of Miracles (The Marvelous Playbill)", 1968
"Terese Desqueyroux", 1962

Waldemar Świerzy
"Adam Mickiewicz", 1978
"Circus", 1973
"Shadow"
"Dancing in Hitler's quarters"
"Falstaff", 1974
"Florian Znaniecki", 1978-1985
"Gombrowicz front and back", 1978-1985
"Horsztyński", 1978-1985
"Jerzy Maksymiuk"
"Jump"
"Kagemusha"
"Cleopatra", 1967
"Moniuszko"
"Narciso"
"French Poster from Toulouse Lautrec to Alain Le Quernec", 1978-1985
"Polish days in Sochi"
"The performance of Hamlet in the village of Głucha Dolna"
"Sulkowski"
"Tadeusz Rocewicz"
"Visit the Zoo"
"Wanda"
"Witkacy 1885-1985"
"Around Mrożek", 1978-1985
"Yehudi Menuhin"

Henryk Tomaszewski
"History", 1983
"J. Kochanowski. Threnody", 1983
"Julius Caesar", 1981
"Séance", 1980
"Wojciech Bogusławski", 1978