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• The Man at Work Collection

The Man at Work Collection

With nearly 700 European and American paintings and sculptures that depict various forms of work, The Eckhart G. Grohmann Collection Man at Work at Milwaukee School of Engineering is the world's most comprehensive collection of its kind. The artworks span over 400 years of history (17-20th centuries) and comprise a variety of styles and subjects that document the evolution of organized work, from manpower and horsepower to water, steam and electrical power. The works were gifted to MSOE in 2001 from the collection of Milwaukee businessman and collector Dr. Eckhart Grohmann. This is the first art collection acquired by the university.

John George Brown, Extra, Extra (The Paper Boy), 1904

In discussing his gift, Grohmann identified the similarity between the evolution of work and the pragmatic educational approach of MSOE. A university setting provides students, staff and visitors with a historical context for their own activities as they relate to engineering and business. "Exposure to this collection will help open students' eyes to the historical evolution of work from its early, modest beginnings and allow them to better understand the roots of today's production processes," said Grohmann.

"The beneficiaries of Dr. Grohmann's generosity are the MSOE students, faculty, staff and the community who will be exposed to this collection through visits to campus or through the book," said MSOE President Hermann Viets, Ph.D. "It will be of ongoing value to all of MSOE."

The collection is housed in the Grohmann Museum, 1000 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis.