Calla Lilies 1914

Max Pechstein’s painting titled ‘Calla Lilies’ offers us a glimpse into the artist’s negotiation between artistic expression and cultural identity in early 20th-century Germany. Pechstein, associated with the expressionist group Die Brücke, often explored themes of nature and primitive life, seeking authenticity and freedom from societal constraints. However, these artistic explorations existed within a complex social context marked by rising nationalism. The calla lilies, elegantly arranged in vases, might seem like a simple still life, but consider how the pursuit of the ‘primitive’ was often fraught with colonial undertones. How might Pechstein’s longing for a more ‘authentic’ existence relate to the cultural anxieties of his time? The whiteness of the lilies against the backdrop invites us to reflect on the notions of purity and exoticism that were prevalent in the art and thought of the period. As you engage with Pechstein’s work, ponder the relationship between the personal and the political, the aesthetic and the ethical.