Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948
1948–91

Available online are various items selected from the Kurt Schwitters collection featuring writings, correspondence and photographs, particularly relating to Schwitters' relationship with Edith Thomas, and the court case between Edith and Kurt Schwitters' son, Ernst, regarding the division of Schwitters' works following his death. Items from this collection also available online are: private view cards and exhibition catalogues relating to exhibitions featuring Schwitters' work; photographs of Schwitters, and his family and friends; and photographs of his works and locations he visited.
Further details on this collection are available on the archive catalogue.
- Collection Owner
- Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948
- Collection
- Tate Archive
- Acquisition
- Presented by Edith Thomas's son, Geoff Thomas, in 1995.
- Reference
- TGA 9510
139 objects in this collection
- Title
- Photographs relating to Kurt Schwitters
- Date
- [1930s–1980s]
- Description
- Includes photographs of Kurt Schwitters, family and friends, locations and works.
- Reference
- TGA 9510/5
Showing 17 objects
Unknown person(s) Photograph of (L-R): Kèate Steinitz, Theo van Doesburg, Kurt Schwitters, and Nelly van Doesburg
[1930s]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of Kurt Schwitters painting near Djupvassjytta, Norway
1933
Ernst Schwitters Photograph (close-up) of Kurt Schwitters painting near Djupvassjytta, Norway
1933
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of Kurt Schwitters in a boat at the foot of a glacier
1935
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of Kurt Schwitters stepping out of a boat at the foot of a glacier
1935
Anonymous Photograph of Kurt Schwitters wife, Helma
[1930s]
Unknown person(s) Photograph of Kurt Schwitters’ mother sitting in a chair listening to the radio
[1930s]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of [Kurt Schwitters’ mother?]
[1930s]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of Gert Strindberg
[1943–4]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of an old man and two dogs in a boat on Molde Fjord, Norway
[1940s]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of two dogs in a boat on Molde Fjord, Norway
[1940s]
Ernst Schwitters Photograph of a house beside Molde Fjord, Norway
[1940s]
Edith “Wanty” Thomas Transparency of Kurt Schwitters’ memorial stone, Ambleside, Cumbria
[1980s]
Edith “Wanty” Thomas Photograph of a student beside Schwitters’ Merzbarn wall, Cylinders, Cumbria
1963