The Artist's Road Painting the World's Beautiful Places

Max Liebermann

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

The Artist's Studio     1902     Max Liebermann 

   The long life of German artist Max Liebermann (1847-1935), was filled with drastic extremes, ending with his persecution, the removal of his paintings from public collections, and the Nazi looting of much of his work and of his private art collection, reported to be the largest collection of French Impressionist work in Germany at the time. Claims to those stolen paintings found to still be in existence, continue to be resolved to this day.

   Liebermann grew up the son of a wealthy Jewish fabric manufacturer turned banker. He did not do well in school, but became interested in and ultimately devoted to drawing and painting. He spent time studying and working in Paris, Amsterdam and Venice, ultimately returning to live in Berlin.

   Liebermann and his wife, Martha Marckwald, built a country home on a lake in Wannsee, outside of Berlin, in 1909. He, along with Alfred Lichtwark, designed large gardens there. These provided subjects for his work throughout the rest of his life.

The Kitchen Garden in Wannsee to the West    1922     Max Liebermann


Terrace Overlooking the Flower Garden in Wannsee     1918     Max Liebermann

   He was commissioned to paint over 200 portraits in his career, including one of Alfred Einstein, and in 1927, a very controversial one of Reich President Paul von Hindenburg. Liebermann wrote: "The other day a Hitler paper wrote – it was sent to me – that it would be unheard of for a Jew to paint the Reich President. I can only laugh at something like that. I'm convinced that when Hindenburg finds out, he'll laugh about it too. I'm just a painter, and what does painting have to do with Judaism?"

   However, over the next few years, Liebermann resigned from membership and honorary presidency of the Prussian Academy of the Arts, saying:  "During my long life I have tried, with all my might, to serve German art. In my opinion, art has nothing to do with politics or ancestry. I can no longer belong to the Prussian Academy of the Arts...since my point of view is no longer valued.”

   He retreated from public life altogether, disillusioned with the changes in the world around him. When he died in 1935, the Gestapo forbade participation in the funeral, for fear that it might become a display for artistic freedom. Liebermann’s wife, who was suffering from a serious illness, committed suicide at 85 after being notified that she would be deported to a concentration camp. His daughter had fled to the United States. 

   Click on the video below (or visit this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL8Akpwhfw) to take a visit to Max Liebermann's garden.

Self Portrait     Max Liebermann