Mother and daughterMax Beckmann · 1946

Identification of Mother and daughter by Max Beckmann

The oil on canvas painting titled Mother and daughter was executed by the artist Max Beckmann in 1946. This specific work is documented under several alternative titles within various collections and historical records. These include Old woman in ermine and Old lady with daughter. In the German language, the piece is identified as Alte dame mit Tochter.

The artist Max Beckmann produced this work during a period of significant transition in his life and career. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, located in Sydney, Australia. It was acquired for the institution through funds provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation in 1987. The accession number assigned to this piece is 400.1987.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

The composition is vertical and somewhat flattened, presenting two female figures in a close, frontal arrangement. The older figure is positioned alongside a younger one, and she holds a small golden cross between her hands. The figures are defined by bold, heavy outlines that separate them from the surrounding space. Their forms are characterized by somewhat distorted and angular shapes, creating a sense of physical weight and tension within the frame.

The color palette is dominated by deep purples, stark whites, and dark blacks. These tones are punctuated by patches of warm skin tones and small accents of gold and red. Lighting is dramatic and uneven, casting deep shadows that obscure parts of the faces and bodies. This creates a shallow sense of depth, pushing the subjects toward the viewer. The overall atmosphere is somber and emotive, shaped by the heavy application of paint and the high contrast between light and dark areas.

Technique and Artistic Style

This oil on canvas work is executed in an Expressionist style. The artist utilizes a masterful impasto technique to build a palpable, heavy weight across the surface. Thick, gestural brushstrokes define the forms, creating a physical presence that emphasizes the materiality of the paint. This heavy texture is particularly evident in the white garments, where the application of the medium creates a raised, tactile quality.

The composition relies on bold, heavy outlines to define the contours of the figures and their clothing. These lines are thick and gestural, contributing to a sense of tension within the vertical, somewhat flattened arrangement. The lighting is uneven, casting deep shadows that obscure parts of the faces and bodies, which results in a shallow sense of depth. The color palette is dominated by deep purples, stark whites, and dark blacks, contrasted against patches of warm skin tones and small accents of gold and red.

Historical Context and Interpretations

This work was created about 1946, following the artist's permanent departure from Germany in 1937. This relocation occurred after his previous works were included in the Nazi 'Degenerate Art' exhibition, an initiative designed to attack contemporary culture. The painting reflects the specific anxieties of this epoch, capturing a sense of a doomed world through its enigmatic and unsettling composition. The figures within the frame appear distorted and disturbed, a visual shift that became characteristic of the artist's output by the 1930s as the National Socialist regime assumed power in Germany.

The psychological weight of the piece is tied to the historical instability of the mid-twentieth century. The tension in the subjects' forms and the heavy, gestural application of paint contribute to an atmosphere of unease. Rather than providing a literal depiction of a domestic scene, the work functions as a response to the fractured reality of the era. The composition suggests a state of tension that mirrors the broader social and political shifts occurring during the period of its creation.

Provenance and Collection History

The history of this oil on canvas includes an exhibition at the Buchholz Gallery Curt Valentin in New York, where it was displayed from 17 November 1947 to 06 December 1947. Following this period, the work entered the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. It is held under the accession number 400.1987.

The acquisition of the painting was facilitated through specific funding. It was purchased in 1987 using funds provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation. The work remains part of the institution's holdings in the 20th-century galleries, located on the ground level of the Naala Nura building.

Where to See This Artwork Today

This oil on canvas is held within the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The institution is located in Sydney, Australia. Visitors can find the work on the ground level of the museum, specifically within the Naala Nura space. It is situated among the 20th-century galleries.

The gallery itself has been established since 1872. The painting is part of the collection's holdings and was acquired through funds provided by the Art Gallery of New South Wales Foundation in 1987. It is displayed in a setting that allows for close observation of its heavy impasto and dark, gestural lines.