Max Beckmann: A Journey Through Art and Adversity

Max Beckmann, born in Leipzig in 1884, was a pivotal figure in modern art, known for his distinct style and profound thematic content. He began his formal art education at the Weimar Academy from 1900 to 1903 and subsequently worked in Berlin, where his early paintings were notably influenced by Impressionism. Beckmann's initial works also delved into biblical and mythological themes, showcasing his admiration for medieval art.

Beckmann's life took a dramatic turn with the onset of World War I in 1914. He served as a medical orderly, an experience that led to a nervous breakdown and his subsequent discharge. The harrowing experiences of war left an indelible mark on Beckmann, profoundly shaping his later artistic output. After the war, Beckmann settled in Frankfurt in 1915, where he began creating figurative compositions that depicted a harsh vision of the contemporary world, marked by brutality and oppressive apathy. His painting "The Night" (1919) is a stark example of this, portraying a scene of torture that reflects the social realities of the time while also serving as a powerful symbolic composition.

Beckmann's work is often described as transcendental realism, a blend of realistic portrayal with allegorical and symbolic significance. This style is evident in the recurring motifs in his paintings, such as candles and musical instruments. His compositions are characterized by simplified forms and a crowded, almost two-dimensional space, creating a unique and instantly recognizable aesthetic. Beckmann also produced numerous self-portraits, offering introspective glimpses into his evolving identity as an artist.

The rise of the Nazi regime in 1933 marked another turning point in Beckmann's life. Dismissed from his teaching post in Frankfurt, he painted "Robbery of Europe" and the triptych "Departure" that same year. Facing increasing oppression, Beckmann fled to Berlin, then to Paris and Amsterdam, before eventually settling in the United States in 1947. In America, Beckmann's work became lighter and less harsh, reflecting a new phase in his artistic journey. In his final years, Beckmann received numerous academic honors and prizes, including recognition at the prestigious Venice Biennale.

Max Beckmann's legacy is a testament to his resilience and unwavering commitment to his art. His work continues to resonate, offering a powerful commentary on the human condition and the tumultuous times in which he lived.
Max Beckmann: A Journey Through Art and Adversity

Franz Eichhorst: Painter, engraver, illustrator

Franz Eichhorst was born in Berlin on September 7, 1885. He was one of the most sought-after German painters in the Third Reich. He was known for his war paintings supporting the Nazi regime.

He studied under the direction of Friedrich Kallmorgen at the Berlin Academy of Arts. Eichhorst volunteered for military service for Germany in World War I. In the early 1920s, Eichhorst set up a summer studio in Matrei in Osttirol.

In 1928, he created one of his most well-known works, Mädchen mit Krug (Girl with Pitcher). In 1938 he created a series of war murals for the Schöneberg city hall in Berlin. With 56 works exhibited between 1937-1944 he was the most exhibited artist on the Great German Art Exhibitions at Haus der Kunst in Munich. On April 20, 1938 Eichhorst received by Adolf Hitler the honorary title of Professor.

Franz Eichhorst died on April 30, 1948 (aged 62) Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria.
Franz Eichhorst: Painter, engraver, illustrator

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

Considered one of the greatest Graphic Artists in history, Albrecht Dürer elevated printmaking to the level of painting through his unprecedented use of line and value.  Albrecht Durer, born on May 21, 147, was the third of 18 children born to Albrecht Dürer, a goldsmith who had moved to Nuremberg, Germany from the Kingdom of Hungary and Barbara Holfer, the daughter of Albrecht Dürer the Elder’s master.

His precocious skill is evidenced by a remarkable self-portrait done in 1484, when he was 13 years old, and by a Madonna with Musical Angels, done in 1485, which is already a finished work of art in the late Gothic style.

Die Satyfamilie by Albrecht Dürer

In 1486, Dürer was apprenticed to the well-known Nuremberg artist Michael Wolgemut, from whom he learned the fundamentals of painting and printmaking.

After his three year’s apprenticeship was over Dürer went on travel for four years. He went of Venice, certainly to Colmar where the works of Martin Schongauer impressed him.

Through his life, Dürer had significant contact to individuals with health problems and with disabilities.

In 1498 appeared Dürer’s sixteen great woodcuts of the ‘Apocalypse; which introduced a new epoch in the art of wood-engraving. In 1507, he journeyed home, where he formed a school and pupils and apprentices gathered around him.

Dürer built his reputation with graphic works such as the Large Passion and Small Passion and the Life of the Virgin, which were published in 1511, as well as by accepting painting commission.
Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528)

History of the Beginning by Max Beckmann

Max Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 28, 1950) was born in Leipzig. He is one of Germany’s most famous post-impressionist artists. He displayed characteristics of expressionism and the New Objectivity movement.

He taught in Frankfurt until 1933, when he was dismissed by the Nazi regime as a ‘degenerate artist’.

In Beginning, Beckmann looks back to his childhood with fondness and humor. Max Beckmann completed two of his nine triptychs in the United States, Beginning and the The Argonauts (1949-1950).

Beginning was begun in Amsterdam where Beckmann lived in exile from 1937 until 1947.
History of the Beginning by Max Beckmann