1905, Max Beckmann, Self-Portrait -- Stadel Museum (Frankfurt)
From the museum label: This self-portrait marks a turning point in Beckmann's art of painting: it depicts the moment he turned away from Impressionism and towards other influences. The systematised brushstrokes and the painter's looks show the influence of van Gogh's self-portraits. In contrast, the emphatically geometric structure of the background with its large, coherent colour fields reflects the artist's interest in Cézanne's art. The letters at the bottom of the picture can be read as a dedication to Beckmann's future wife, Minna Tube: 'Mister Beckmann to his Dearest [Herr Beckmann seiner Liebsten] Minna (Minkchen) Tube'.
1905, Max Beckmann, Self-Portrait -- Stadel Museum (Frankfurt)
From the museum label: This self-portrait marks a turning point in Beckmann's art of painting: it depicts the moment he turned away from Impressionism and towards other influences. The systematised brushstrokes and the painter's looks show the influence of van Gogh's self-portraits. In contrast, the emphatically geometric structure of the background with its large, coherent colour fields reflects the artist's interest in Cézanne's art. The letters at the bottom of the picture can be read as a dedication to Beckmann's future wife, Minna Tube: 'Mister Beckmann to his Dearest [Herr Beckmann seiner Liebsten] Minna (Minkchen) Tube'.