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…