Art Edition-Fils was founded in Berlin in 1870. Since the first days up till now the company is owned by the FIls family. It is the oldest publisher house in Europe and perhaps in the world for art, be it prints or multiples.

For a long time in between 1929 and 1981 there had been two branches, as well in Dusseldorf nearby the famous art academy and in Berlin, so that Art Edition-Fils became the only art business working as well in Westand East Germany.