German artist Max Liebermann: biography and creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Impressionism is a trend in art (mainly in painting), which originated in France at the end of the 19th century. Representatives of this trend sought to create completely new ways of conveying the surrounding reality. The world in the paintings of the Impressionists is mobile, changeable, elusive.

The term was first introduced by the French journalist Lee Leroy, who took as the basis for the title of his article the title of Claude Monet's painting “Impression. Rising Sun". The French word for "impression" is impression. It was from him that the term “impressionism” originated.

One of the main representatives of this trend in painting is the German artist Max Liebermann. Several dozen paintings came out from under his brush.

Biography. Early years

The future painter was born on July 20, 1847 in Berlin. His father, Louis Lieberman, was a we althy Jewish industrialist.

Max Lieberman showed a passion fordrawing, devoting a large amount of time to it almost daily. The parents of the future artist did not limit him in this, but they treated their son's hobby without enthusiasm, not seeing further prospects in this.

It is known that at school Lieberman was not very diligent, he was restless in the lessons and was often distracted. The future artist could not stand school and constantly went to various tricks to avoid daily sitting at a desk. In particular, he pretended to be sick.

Parents were disappointed by this behavior of Max, their attitude towards his hobby worsened. When Lieberman was 13 years old, the first public exhibition of his paintings took place, but his father strictly forbade his son to mention his last name at this event.

Students

After graduating from school, Max Liebermann entered the Faculty of Chemistry at the Humboldt University of Berlin. However, not at all with the goal of becoming a chemist. The artist rarely appeared at lectures, devoting almost all his time to painting and riding in the central city park.

Lieberman also helped Carl Steffeck to work on his monumental paintings. It was thanks to Steffek that the fateful meeting between Lieberman and Wilhelm Bode, an art historian and director of an art museum, took place. Bode was impressed with the work of the young artist and further promoted them in every possible way.

It is not surprising that Max Lieberman was soon expelled for his careless attitude to studies. There was a conflict with the parents, who nevertheless allowed their son to attend the Grand Duke's Art Academy.

Liebermanstudied with the Belgian artist Ferdinand Pauwels, who discovered the work of Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn to the young man.

Franco-Prussian War

When the Franco-Prussian War began, Lieberman was full of patriotic desire to serve his Fatherland. Due to a physical injury, he was not accepted for military service and worked as a volunteer on the battlefield.

After the war, the artist Max Lieberman went on a trip to the Netherlands. Upon returning to his homeland, he created the painting “Women Plucking Geese.”

In his native Germany, Lieberman's work was not appreciated. For this reason, he decided to leave and went to France.

Later years

In Paris, the artist set up his workshop and hoped to get acquainted with the local impressionists, but they did not accept him. Lieberman's work continued to receive negative reviews.

Having moved to Holland, Max Liebermann tried to find his own style by studying the work of other artists.

Then he returned to Paris again. Here the painter began to experience depression caused by a misunderstanding of his parents and creative stagnation.

In the late 1870s, Lieberman gained fame for his painting "Jesus at the Twelve in the Temple". The artist continued to travel around Holland. In 1884 he returned to his hometown and married Martha Markwald.

In 1886, Liebermann took part in the exhibition of the Berlin Academy of Arts.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the artist changes the direction of his work. If earlier he strove to depict people during work, now Lieberman, on the contrary, devotes his paintings to the theme of recreation and entertainment. It is to this period that the work of Max Lieberman "Samson and Delilah" belongs.

The painter dies February 8, 1935 in Berlin.

Creativity

Women Plucking Geese (1872) is one of Max Liebermann's first major works. The picture is painted in dark colors. In the foreground are five women plucking goose feathers; there is also a man holding birds in his hands.

This canvas created Lieberman's image of an artist depicting "ugliness". A similar story caused disgust among the local public when the painting appeared at an art exhibition.

Another controversial work of the painter - "Twelve-year-old Jesus" (1879). The color scheme again contains predominantly dark shades. The painting depicts a young son of God surrounded by temple servants.

The canvas “Playing Tennis by the Sea” (1901) belongs to a later period. Unlike earlier works, bright colors are used here. The painting depicts men and women playing tennis carelessly on the seashore.