Alfred H. Barr, The Museum Of Modern Art In New York Early

Museum of Modern Art, New York, is one of the most important art museums in the world nowadays. As the first modern art museum in America, it became a model to be followed by the same kind of museums both in America and European countries in their museum plans. This paper will focus on the early phase of the establishment of Museum of Modern Art, New York. From analyzing the achievement of its founding director, Alfred H. Barr, this paper will pay special attention on the forming of its founding ideas and these ideas' influence in the museum's future development.This paper will regard Museum of Modern Art, New York, as the consequence of the long development of museums, especially that of those ones presenting and collecting modern art. Through studying the experience of Barr, including his learning on art history, his travel and teaching practice, This paper will comb the forming of his academic perspectives, discuss that what museum founding ideas were drawn from these academic perspectives, and explore the impact the founding ideas made on the success of the Museum and on the development of modern art museums around the world.Case study is one of the main methods used in this paper. For instance, on discussing the exhibition ideas, representative exhibitions in the early period of the Museum are selected to give detailed analysis. In addition to that, the paper also takes reference to the study method of art administration. From analyzing Barr's thinking on the presentation, collection and education of the Museum, which is the three basic museum functions, this paper tries to present the scene of the early development of Museum of Modern Art, New York.