Pictures of

Max Liebermann

Master with loose brushstrokes

Max Liebermann was born in Berlin on July 20, 1847, to a wealthy Jewish family. He showed great interest and talent for art at an early age. He began his artistic training at the Grand Ducal Baden School of Art in Karlsruhe and later continued it at the Royal Academy of Arts in Berlin. There he studied under the landscape painter Carl Steffeck, among others.

During his education, Liebermann developed a broad artistic style influenced by the realistic tradition of the Düsseldorf School of Painting and the works of the 17th-century Dutch masters. He later traveled to Paris, where he became acquainted with the works of the French Impressionists, who had a profound influence on his artistic creativity.

The encounter with Impressionism fundamentally changed Liebermann's style. He began to grasp the play of light and color in nature, and his works took on a vivid and atmospheric quality. He became known for his depictions of everyday life, especially people at work, in parks, or on the beach. These scenes captured the mood and dynamics of urban life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Liebermann's paintings displayed a technical mastery coupled with a keen observational sense of detail and subtle nuance. His loose brushwork and use of bright colors contributed to the vivid effect of his works. In addition to painting, Liebermann was also a skilled etcher and lithographer.

As a committed artist, Liebermann was also involved in art politics. He was one of the co-founders of the Berlin Secession, a group of artists who distanced themselves from the traditional art academies and sought new directions in art. Liebermann championed artistic freedom and encouraged exchanges with foreign artists.

In the 1920s Liebermann reached his artistic peak and was recognized as one of the most important German artists of his time. His works were shown in numerous national and international exhibitions, and he received several awards and honorary degrees.

During Nazism, Liebermann was defamed by the Nazis as a Jewish artist and his works were removed from museums. He spent the last years of his life in secluded silence and died in Berlin on February 8, 1935.

After his death, Liebermann was forgotten for some time, but in recent decades his work has experienced a rediscovery and recognition. Today, his paintings are known for their artistic quality, technical brilliance, and insights into the German society of his time. Liebermann's works are exhibited in renowned museums and galleries worldwide and are a significant contribution to the art history of Impressionism in Germany.