Artwork
Swimming Pool Cap Martin
Swimming Pool Cap Martin is an oil painting by the German Expressionist artist Max Beckmann. It dates from 1944 and is held in the collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
About this work
Overview
Swimming Pool Cap Martin, a 1944 oil painting by Max Beckmann, captures a serene scene at a swimming pool, contrasting with the artist's characteristic infusion of underlying unease into everyday subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a tranquil pool setting with sailboats, a distinctive yellow-spired building, and lush foreground greenery, yet subtly conveys a sense of tension beneath its calm surface, reflective of Beckmann's subjective style.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work exhibits Beckmann's deeply subjective approach, blending a seemingly ordinary scene with an undercurrent of moodiness, despite his rejection of the Expressionist label.
History & Provenance
Created in 1944, Swimming Pool Cap Martin is part of the Hamburger Kunsthalle's collection, showcasing Beckmann's later work amidst his association with the New Objectivity movement.
Context
While visually serene, the painting's 1944 creation amidst wartime Europe may imply a complex emotional backdrop, characteristic of Beckmann's exploration of tension in ordinary settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Carl Friedrich Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 27, 1950) was a German painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, and writer.
