It would be wrong to describe the life of Heinz Berggruen as destiny. He was born to a Jewish family in Berlin, and sought refuge in California at the dawn of the Second World War. After studying in France, his first contacts with the art world were in San Francisco.

When the war was over, Berggruen preferred to return to Europe, first to his native country as a journalist, and then to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. He became weary and little by little made his way into the art market: first he had a gallery on Place Dauphine, and then moved permanently to Rue de l’Université where he specialised in graphic arts of modern artists.

He was passionate about his work and quickly made contacts in the Paris world of culture, and met not just artists to exhibit but also poets, art dealers, historians, critics and collectors of the time. Berggruen made a name for himself in the capital and due to his great success became “his best client”. Guided by his own tastes and affinities, he built up a solid collection of 20th century works from his favourite masters: Picasso and Klee.

The exhibition layout, between monographs and theme-based focuses, emphasises above all Berggruen’s specific and personal tastes. Although it is clear that it will almost exhaustively highlight the entire careers of Picasso and Klee, as well as Matisse’s remarkable cut-outs and Giacommeti’s skinny sculptures, the exhibition will revolve around Heinz Berggruen, his choices, his encounters and his affinities that guided the creation of this collection.

Donated to the German state in 2000, a few years before the collector’s death, this vast collection resonates particularly with the Walter-Guillaume collection at Musée de l’Orangerie Around a 100  masterpieces by Picasso, Klee, Matisse and Giacometti serve to raise the profile of a major player in Parisian art from the second half of the 20th century.