Artwork
Chicory Still Life
Chicory Still Life is an oil painting by Max Beckmann. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1930, this oil painting by German artist Max Beckmann depicts a modest still‑life arrangement. A vase of blue blossoms, accented with yellow flowers, occupies the foreground, set against a window draped with a plain white curtain. Behind the vase, a table holds additional objects, rendered in muted tones that contrast with the vivid floral display.
Subject & Meaning
While the composition presents a conventional still‑life, Beckmann’s treatment introduces a subtle tension. The juxtaposition of bright, loosely rendered flowers with a restrained, almost clinical background suggests an undercurrent of unease, reflecting the artist’s interest in exploring ordinary subjects that hint at deeper psychological currents.
Technique & Style
The work employs thick oil layers that reveal the artist’s brushwork, especially in the floral elements where strokes are vigorous and expressive. In contrast, the surrounding interior is painted with smoother, more subdued passages, creating a visual hierarchy that emphasizes the texture and immediacy of the blossoms while maintaining overall compositional balance.
History & Provenance
Beckmann, often associated with Expressionism, positioned himself within the New Objectivity movement of the 1920s, favoring a more detached representation. This painting is part of the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, where it has been displayed as an example of his still‑life oeuvre from the early 1930s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Carl Friedrich Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 27, 1950) was a German painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, and writer.
