Avond (zelfportret met de Battenbergs) 1916 - 1919

This is Max Beckmann’s etching “Avond (zelfportret met de Battenbergs).” Beckmann used metal plate printmaking to create this image. He likely covered a copper or zinc plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then scratched an image into the ground. He then submerged the plate in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating the recessed lines that would hold the ink. To make the print, he would ink the plate, wipe the surface clean, and then run it through a press with a sheet of paper. The density of lines creates a very rich surface and the artist has used cross-hatching to create a range of tonal values. The sharp, incisive line suggests the psychological intensity of the scene. Printmaking allowed Beckmann to reproduce this image, reaching a wider audience. The act of printing aligns the artwork with the processes of mass production and labor, taking the image beyond the scope of a unique work of art. Understanding the process of its making is therefore crucial to understanding its meaning.