Rider on the Beach 1911

Max Liebermann made this painting, Rider on the Beach, with oil on canvas. The painting is all about process. Look at the way he has dabbed and swiped the paint, not trying to hide his marks at all. The surface is really interesting here, it’s not smooth and blended, but full of texture. The brushstrokes are visible everywhere, especially in the sky and the sand, which feel kind of scumbled. I love how the colors are muted, almost monochromatic. All those browns and greys give it a feeling of a blustery day at the beach. The way Liebermann applied the paint, particularly in the horse’s mane and tail, gives a sense of movement and energy. The whole piece feels so alive. Liebermann reminds me of other impressionist painters like Manet. He is interested in capturing a moment, an impression, rather than some polished idea of what a day at the beach should look like.