#maxliebermann — Public Fediverse posts

"Der Satz, daß die gutgemalte Rübe besser sei als die schlechtgemalte Madonna, gehört bereits zum eisernen Bestand der modernen Ästhetik. Aber der Satz ist falsch; er müßte lauten: die gutgemalte Rübe ist ebenso gut wie die gutgemalte Madonna."
Max Liebermann
#MaxLiebermann #Malerei #Ästhetik #Rübe
https://projekt-gutenberg.org/authors/max-liebermann/books/die-phantasie-in-der-malerei/chapter/4/

"Samson and Delilah," Max Liebermann, 1902.

Liebermann (1847-1935) was a brilliant artist at a horrible time. He was a leading proponent of German Impressionism, was a leader of the Berlin Secession, an influential avant-garde art movement, but late in life, at the height of his artistic power, his work was dropped by major galleries because he was Jewish, and later all work by Jewish artists was banned.

He died of natural causes, but his paintings, as well as his personal collection, were looted by the Nazis. Liebermann's heirs are still struggling to reclaim his property.

This version of the story is interesting; Liebermann presents it as a modern battle of the sexes, without reference to any sort of Biblical setting.

From the Städel Museum, Frankfurt.

#Art #GermanArt #JewishArtists #BannedByTheThirdReich #LootedByTheThirdReich #MaxLiebermann