Still Life with Mimosas by Max Beckmann

Still Life with Mimosas 1939

maxbeckmann's Profile Picture

maxbeckmann

stadelmuseum's Profile Picture

stadelmuseum

oil-paint, oil

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portrait

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oil-paint

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oil

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german-expressionism

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figuration

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oil painting

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expressionism

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modernism

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expressionist

"Still Life with Mimosas" (1939) by Max Beckmann is a vibrant still life painting that showcases the artist's signature bold and expressive style. The painting features a vase of yellow mimosa flowers set against a muted backdrop, along with a wine glass and a book. Beckmann's use of strong colors and simplified forms create a sense of depth and drama, characteristic of his work during this period, which was influenced by the political and social upheaval of the time. This painting, housed in the Städel Museum, exemplifies Beckmann's ability to capture the essence of everyday objects with both emotional intensity and visual power.

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stadelmuseum's Profile Picture
stadelmuseum over 1 year ago

“Gently propelled by mild folly, humanity skips from flower to flower” (diary entry, 27 June 1944). An empty glass, a closed book and a blossoming bouquet of mimosas, arranged on a white tablecloth, suggest a cheerful mood. But the mimosa is a flower that curls its leaves within seconds when it is touched, which is why it is used to symbolize people of a sensitive disposition. Adorning the cover of the book is the name of the Enlightenment philosopher Voltai[re]. Thus the still life can be seen as an allegory of a time of great political uncertainty, which Beckmann is endeavouring to face through his painting.

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