Self-Portrait with Horn 1938

Here is a self-portrait with a horn by Max Beckmann, painted with oils on canvas. Look at the orange and red hues that dominate the colour palette, framing this striking self-portrait. I imagine Beckmann, brush in hand, mixing colors, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions. There is a feeling of tension and drama. What might he have been thinking as he rendered his own image with such intensity? The paint appears thick, layered, and textured, conveying a sense of depth and physicality. Notice how a particular gesture, like the firm grip on the horn, can communicate feeling, intention, or meaning. The horn is a strange detail and symbol. Beckmann was part of the New Objectivity movement and no doubt this painting relates to his wider practice and body of work. The conversations and exchanges of ideas across time that inspire creativity are evident. It all adds up. Painting is embodied expression which embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations and meaning over fixed readings.