Self-Portrait in Tuxedo 1927

This is Max Beckmann’s self-portrait in a tuxedo, painted sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Beckmann lived through both World Wars and the rise of Nazism, witnessing first hand how political turmoil could impact individual and collective identities. Here, the artist presents himself as a bourgeois figure, a man of apparent wealth and status. Yet, the somber expression and the somewhat claustrophobic composition hints at an underlying sense of unease. The formal attire might be seen as a mask, a way to perform a certain identity while concealing inner turmoil. Notice the cigarette in his hand: is it a symbol of worldliness, or a sign of anxiety? Beckmann once stated, "Painting also means forgetting yourself." In this context, his self-portrait becomes a complex exploration of identity. It shows the artist navigating the complexities of self-representation in a world of shifting social and political landscapes. This painting invites us to reflect on the roles we play and the masks we wear, and perhaps consider the tensions between our inner selves and the identities we present to the world.