Frontal Self Portrait with House Gable in Background 1918

Editor: This is Max Beckmann's "Frontal Self Portrait with House Gable in Background". I find it somewhat unsettling, especially the direct gaze and the rigid lines. What do you make of it? Curator: Notice how the house gable looms, a silent witness. The face—a landscape etched with worry and experience. The eyes especially bear a striking resemblance to those used in traditional depictions of Greek Gods. Does that visual vocabulary change how you see the work? Editor: I hadn’t thought of that! So, the house and gaze hint at something beyond personal anxiety? Curator: Perhaps. Beckmann often used symbols to explore inner turmoil and the broader anxieties of his time, reflecting a collective experience. Editor: Fascinating! It makes me think about how personal and collective narratives intertwine in art.