Max Liebermann
dal 28/9/2011 al 18/2/2012
Segnalato da
28/9/2011
Max Liebermann
Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg
Trailblazer of Modernism: a comprehensive retrospective revealing how Liebermanns introduced Modernism to German painting and the impressive oeuvre the artist was executing at the time. The works range from rustic, rural subjects to depictions of bourgeois leisure activity to his unerring portraits and the late, color-drenched garden paintings. Curated by Dr. Jenns Howoldt.
curator Jenns Howoldt
Max Liebermann (1847-1935) is credited with introducing Modernism to German painting. For the
first time, a new exhibition at the Hamburger Kunsthalle presents a comprehensive retrospective revealing how this process took place and the impressive oeuvre Liebermann was executing at the time. Disillusioned by German academia, the young Berliner turned to France and Holland where he
immersed himself in the progressive trends of the day. Liebermann studied outdoor painting in Barbizon, the cradle of naturalism; in Paris he came into contact with French Impressionism and in Holland he met supporters of The Hague School. In taking what he absorbed there and allowing it to
flow into his work, Liebermann entered new territory both stylistically and in terms of subject. Liebermann’s rendition of simple rural labor without literary and historical references drew harsh criticism at first, eventually culminating in the epithet “filth painter.” As cofounder and president of Berlin
Secession Liebermann became the engine of an oppositional movement opposing the Prussian-Wilhelmine art policy.
This comprehensive retrospective unites over one hundred paintings from all phases of his creative
development. They range from rustic, rural subjects to depictions of bourgeois leisure activity to his
unerring portraits and the late, color-drenched garden paintings. Complementing the Hamburger
Kunsthalle’s large holdings are several other key pieces on loan from national and international museums, supplemented by work generously loaned from private collectors. The show is rounded off
with examples of work by Liebermann’s influences Mihaly Munkácsy, Adolph Menzel, Paul Cézanne
and Auguste Renoir. A separate room is dedicated to Liebermann’s pastel works with its Hamburg
motives from the collection of the Kunsthalle.
The exposure to Liebermann’s work in German museums in the time of National Socialism is presented in a documentary way in a separate room of the exhibition. There will be a film on display
portraying the artist and the part on Liebermann of the film ‘Schaffende Hände (producing hands)’
(1922) of Hans Cürlis will be shown. Liebermann is also present with his voice in the radio broadcast ‘Aus meinem Leben (From my life)’ (1932).
Accompanying the exhibition is a catalogue.
The exhibition was realized in cooperation with the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn.
Curator of the exhibition: Dr. Jenns Howoldt
Curators in Bonn: Dr. Robert Fleck, Agnieszka Lulińska, Marie-Amélie zu Salm-Salm
Image: Max Liebermann (1847 - 1935), Der Papageienmann, 1902, Öl auf Leinwand, 102,3 x 72,3 cm, © Museum Folkwang, Essen
Mira Forte Kommunikation Tel. +49 (0)40. 428131204 Fax +49 (0)40. 428542978 presse@hamburger-kunsthalle.de
Press conference Wednesday, 29th September 2011, h 11a.m.
Hamburger Kunsthalle
Stiftung öffentlichen Rechts
Glockengießerwall - Hamburg
Opening hours
Tuesdays to Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Admission: Adults € 10, Concessions € 5