Description: Compact, lavishly illustrated overview of artist Max Beckman's life and work.
Max Beckmann (1884-1950), the outstanding Expressionist painter, is regarded as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. Beckmann's work reflected the social upheavals of his time, not only in his art but also through his extensive correspondence and diaries. He was an observer, a gentleman, a loner, and a reflective witness of his age. It is especially in his expressive self-portraits that we believe we can get closer to Beckmann's multi-faceted nature. Max Beckmann traces his artistic career and the principal stations of his life, from his years in Berlin and Frankfurt to his exile in Amsterdam and America. His works will be shown, including private photos and objects from amongst the artist's personal possessions. They are critical of the times in which he lived and bear witness to Beckmann's struggle with existential questions and his constant search for truth.Brief description: Christiane Zeiller is a research fellow at the Max Beckmann archives at Alte Pinakothek in Munich.