Artwork
Still Life with Silver Candlestick
Still Life with Silver Candlestick is an oil painting by Max Beckmann. It dates from 1943 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Still Life with Silver Candlestick, painted by Max Beckmann in 1943, is an oil painting held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It is a still life composition featuring everyday objects and two cats.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a table with a silver candlestick, a box of cigars, a music sheet, fruit, and two cats. The ordinary subjects belie a subdued tension, reflecting an undercurrent of unease characteristic of Beckmann's work.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work is marked by bold brushstrokes and a predominantly dark color palette with bright accents. The loose, expressive handling suggests a rapid execution.
Context
Beckmann was a German artist associated with Expressionism and the New Objectivity movement, though he distanced himself from these labels. His still lifes, like this one, often convey a sense of unease beneath their mundane subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Carl Friedrich Beckmann (February 12, 1884 – December 27, 1950) was a German painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, and writer.
