Zwei Reiter in der Allee bei Sakrow 1924

Max Liebermann made this painting, Zwei Reiter in der Allee bei Sakrow, with oil paint, and it feels like the process was all about juicy brushstrokes. Look at how he’s layered the greens and yellows to give the sense of light filtering through the trees. The materiality of this piece is so present. The paint isn't trying to hide itself; it’s thick in some places, thin in others, and you can almost feel the bristles of the brush as he worked. Focus on the way Liebermann handled the foliage – each stroke seems deliberate, yet the overall effect is one of spontaneity, a kind of organized chaos. It reminds me of Constable, but with a more modern sensibility. Both artists capture the essence of a place, but Liebermann does it with a kind of restless energy. He embraces the ambiguity of paint, inviting us to fill in the gaps, and to find our own way through the trees.