Max Liebermann: a prominent representative of German Impressionism

Max Liebermann (1847–1935), born in Berlin, studied the painting of the Dutch Golden Age from the very beginning. In the 1880s, he encountered the fresh perspective of impressionism in Paris, and upon returning, he developed his own style characterized by a bright color palette and swift brush strokes.

In 1898, he founded the Berlin Secession group with leading German artists, which served as an alternative to conservative academicism and official exhibitions. As a leader, he encouraged the showcasing of contemporary creators and the strengthening of international artistic connections.

His main themes include scenes from urban and rural everyday life: women embroidering in the garden, laundry girls at the beach, or sunny promenades in parks. Notable works include Women Embroidering in the Garden (1887), the Beach Laundry series (1908), and Ornamental Running (1905), in which he captured the relationship between man and nature.

He contributed not only as a painter but also as an advisor at the Berlin National Gallery: he supported the acquisition of Dutch masters, enriching German museum collections.

Towards the end of his life, after the rise of Nazism in 1933, he lost his official positions, his exhibitions were under boycott, and he spent his last years in isolation. He died in Hamburg in 1935.

His influence on German painting is extraordinary: his work forms a bridge between classical artistic traditions and modern aspirations, representing the brightest example of the German stream of impressionism.