Anni and Josef went to the Metropolitan Museum in New York two days after they arrived in the United States in 1933. From the start, they loved the energy that they felt there and were impressed by the size of the crowd. In 1971, Josef was the first living artist (excepting Winston Churchill, who was known primarily for reasons other than his art) to have a solo retrospective at the Met. Josef used the occasion to give some of his most important early glass constructions there, and Anni donated a superb collection of her textile samples. The Alberses continued to visit the Met until the end of Josef’s life, and on their last visit there, in the autumn of 1975, they were particularly thrilled to have a preview viewing of the new Islamic galleries.
Narratives
