Artwork
Studies for Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus
Studies for Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Max Liebermann. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1977.25
- Credit line
- Gift of Dr. Robin Anderson
About this work
Overview
Studies for Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus (1896) is a drawing by Max Liebermann, a prominent German Impressionist. The work is characterized by loose, expressive lines and a warm brown paper tone, indicative of a quick, preparatory sketch.
Subject & Meaning
Although titled after a biblical episode, the drawing focuses on the interaction between two robed figures rather than the dramatic conversion of Saint Paul. One figure offers support, arm around the other’s shoulders, while the latter looks forward with a serious countenance.
Technique & Style
Liebermann employed rapid, scribble-like strokes to suggest fabric texture and movement, prioritizing expressive gesture over detailed rendering. The faces, too, are treated with economy: one averted, the other solemn.
History & Provenance
Created in 1896, the drawing is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. Liebermann’s background, having studied in Weimar, Paris, and the Netherlands before settling in Berlin (1884), influenced his Impressionist approach.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Liebermann (20 July 1847 – 8 February 1935) was a German painter and printmaker, and one of the leading proponents of Impressionism in Germany and continental Europe.
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