Evening (Self-Portrait with the Battenbergs), Max Beckmann
Max Beckmann
Evening (Self-Portrait with the Battenbergs)
DE
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Max Beckmann

Evening (Self-Portrait with the Battenbergs), 1916

Plate 10 of: Gesichter, Munich: Marées Gesellschaft and Piper, 1919


Blatt
299 x 246 mm
Platte
240 x 179 mm
Physical Description
Drypoint etching on Japan paper Second state (of III)
Inventory Number
SG 2952
Object Number
SG 2952 D
Acquisition
Acquired in 1949 from the collection of Ugi and Fridel Battenberg
Status
Can be presented in the study room of the Graphische Sammlung (special opening hours)

Texts

About the Work

In a letter to the publisher Reinhard Piper of 9 March 1917, Beckmann described this drypoint etching as one of his “best works”. We see the Battenberg couple: Ugi completely absorbed in his glass, Fridel contemplative, on her lap the cat she was so often portrayed with. Beckmann’s own demonic-looking face pushes itself between the two like a wedge. The drypoint technique accounts for the soft look of the cat’s fur. As a vehicle for conveying the mood the artist described as “latently erotic”, the pet also bears symbolic significance.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Evening (Self-Portrait with the Battenbergs)
Plate 10 of: Gesichter, Munich: Marées Gesellschaft and Piper, 1919
Artist
Printer
Publisher
Edition
Einer von 60 Abzügen der verstählten Platte
Production Place
Period Produced
Object Type
Physical Description
Drypoint etching on Japan paper Second state (of III)
Material
Technique
Geographic Reference
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Signiert unterhalb der Darstellung rechts (mit Bleistift): Beckmann
Prägestempel der Marées-Gesellschaft unten links
Captions Added Later
Verso Stempel der Städtischen Galerie, Frankfurt am Main (Lugt 2371c), mit zugehöriger Inventarnummer
Watermark
  • Nicht geprüft
Work Catalogues
  • Hofmaier 90 II B b
  • Gallwitz 67
  • Glaser 84
  • Beckmann-Liste 90

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Administration
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 1949 from the collection of Ugi and Fridel Battenberg

Work Content

Motifs and References

Iconclass

Primary
  • 48C513 portrait, self-portrait of painter
  • 61B2(BECKMANN, Max)13 historical person (BECKMANN, Max) - historical person (BECKMANN, Max) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait
  • 61B2(BATTENBERG, Ugi)13 historical person (BATTENBERG, Ugi) - historical person (BATTENBERG, Ugi) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait
  • 61BB2(BATTENBERG, Fridel)13 historical person (BATTENBERG, Fridel) - BB - woman - historical person (BATTENBERG, Fridel) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait
  • 61B2(BECKMANN, Max)13(+512) historical person (BECKMANN, Max) - historical person (BECKMANN, Max) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait (+ three-quarter view portrait)
  • 61B2(BATTENBERG, Ugi)13(+512) historical person (BATTENBERG, Ugi) - historical person (BATTENBERG, Ugi) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait (+ three-quarter view portrait)
  • 61BB2(BATTENBERG,Fridel)13(+522) historical person (BATTENBERG,Fridel) - BB - woman - historical person (BATTENBERG,Fridel) portrayed in a group, in a group-portrait (+ three-quarter view portrait)
Secondary

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Last update

22.03.2023