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Hildegard Bachert
Born (1921-04-03)April 3, 1921
Died October 17, 2019(2019-10-17) (aged 98)
Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
Nationality American
Occupation Art gallery director
Years active 1940–2019
Employer Galerie St. Etienne

Hildegard Bachert (born April 3, 1921 – died October 17, 2019) was an important American art dealer and gallery director. She was born in Mannheim, Germany. In 1936, she moved to America to escape the Nazi government. In 1940, she started working at the Galerie St. Etienne in New York City. This gallery focused on Austrian and German expressionist art. Hildegard worked there for almost 80 years, until she passed away.

Early Life in Germany

Hildegard Bachert grew up in Mannheim, Germany. She lived with her mother, father, and older sister Edith. When she was twelve, the Nazi party took power in 1933. Her parents quickly planned for Hildegard and Edith to go to the United States. They had relatives there who worked in the meat business.

In 1936, her parents took Hildegard and Edith to the U.S. However, her parents had to return to Germany soon after. Later, their family home in Mannheim was attacked during an event called Kristallnacht. This was a violent night against Jewish people. Luckily, Hildegard's parents escaped Germany soon after. They were able to join their children in America.

Working at Galerie St. Etienne

Once in the United States, Hildegard went to high school. She worked very hard to learn English well. She finished high school in 1939. Soon after, she began working at the Nierendorf Gallery in New York City.

After about a year and a half, Otto Kallir hired her. He was the owner of the Galerie St. Etienne. Hildegard started as his secretary.

Helping Famous Artists

Hildegard Bachert was very important in building the gallery's relationship with Grandma Moses. Grandma Moses was a very famous American folk artist. The Galerie St. Etienne showed her art. Hildegard even helped Moses write her life story, called My Life's History.

Hildegard also became an expert in the art of Käthe Kollwitz. Kollwitz's work was always a main part of the gallery's collection.

Becoming a Director

When Otto Kallir passed away in 1978, Hildegard became a co-director. She shared this role with Jane Kallir, who was Otto's granddaughter. Hildegard and Jane worked together to make older art interesting to people today.

As part of their work, Hildegard wrote an essay for a special book. This book was for a 1992 art show about Kollwitz at the National Gallery of Art. She also helped organize two shows of Kollwitz's art in Europe in 1994.

Promoting Other Artists

Besides Grandma Moses and Kollwitz, Hildegard helped many other artists. She promoted artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker, Richard Gerstl, Lea Grundig, Jeanne Mammen, and Sue Coe. These artists were also part of the Galerie St. Etienne's focus.

She also worked with Jane Kallir to update a very important book. This book lists all the known artworks by Egon Schiele. It was first created by Otto Kallir. Hildegard and Jane also kept the special collection of Grandma Moses's papers. Otto Kallir had put these together for a similar book about Moses's art.

In 1999, Hildegard Bachert received a special award from Germany. It was called the Cross of Merit, First Class. This award recognized her great work in helping to rebuild Germany after the war. Hildegard celebrated 75 years of working at the Galerie St. Etienne. She continued to share her director duties with Jane Kallir.

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