Artist: Max Beckmann
Title: Odysseus and Calypso
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 150 x 115.5 cm
Date: 1943
Biography info:
Max Beckmann is a German painter that lived from 1884 to
1950. He decided he would be a painter at the early age of fifteen. By 1906
Beckmann was an accomplished painter. In 19010 he became the youngest member
ever to elected to the executive board of the Secession by his colleagues. He
created more than eight hundred paintings and produced hundreds of prints and
drawings during 1905 and 1950. During this time he was also persecuted by the
Nazis so he had to leave his homeland and work in isolation to avoid the war.
He served as a medical volunteer for a year and was discharged in 1915 after a
breakdown. When he started painting again in 1917 his style had changed
radically. Nazis began ridding Germany of Modern art, which they believed to be
socially and morally corrupt. By 1937, almost six hundred of Beckmann’s works
had been confiscated. After the war, he moved to the U.S.
Statement on the work:
I am
painting portraits, still lifes, landscapes, visions of towns rising up out of
the sea, beautiful women, and grotesque monsters. People bathing and female
nudes; in short a life — a life that simply exists. Without thoughts or ideas.
Filled with colors and forms from nature and from out of myself. — As beautiful
as possible.
Background info on the work:
The painting depicts Odysseus
and Calypso laying down intimately in bed with the company of a parrot and a
cat. The portrait of the cat is actually of Beckmann’s own cat “Pip”, who is
also the subject of some of his other works.
Connects to theme and why I
chose it:
I chose this painting because it portrays a couple that is in love.
The woman seems to be very passionate and lovingly caressing the male. And even
if someone does not know the story of Odysseus and Calypso the painting still
speaks of love. The fact that they let the parrot and the cat stay nearby also
speaks about their love for their pets.
No comments:
Post a Comment