Portrait of quappi in blue 1926

Max Beckmann painted this portrait of Quappi, his wife, in 1926, probably in oil on canvas. The way he puts down the paint is so direct, like he’s really trying to figure out what’s in front of him. Look at the mix of warm and cool colours in her face. The skin tones aren't just one flat colour, but a whole bunch of reds, yellows, and blues all mashed together. The brushstrokes are visible, kind of chunky and not blended perfectly, which gives it a raw, honest feel. The lines that make up her face and hair are bold and decisive. The whole thing has this sculptural quality. Notice the white lace around the neckline of her blue dress and how it contrasts with the dark shadow on the side of her face. Beckmann's work reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, especially in the way he uses colour to build form. It’s like he’s not just copying what he sees, but also thinking about what paint can do. What does it mean? Who knows, but it looks great!