Water Tower in Hermsdorf, Max Beckmann
Max Beckmann
Water Tower in Hermsdorf
DE
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Max Beckmann

Water Tower in Hermsdorf, 1909


Dimensions
92.2 x 81.5 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
SG 476
Acquisition
Acquired in 1931
Status
Not on display

Texts

About the Work

With a thick application of paint and visible brush marks, Beckmann sketched the water tower of the district Berlin-Hermsdorf, where he lived from 1907 to 1910. The light colours and loose brushwork show his interest in Impressionist painting. The tower under construction rises up on a hill next to a pine forest; thus, both the scaffolding tubes and the slender trees create an upward motion. This is one of the reasons why the motif is reminiscent of the “Tower of Babel”. Also further supported by the fact that Beckmann often dealt with biblical themes during this period.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Water Tower in Hermsdorf
Painter
Period Produced
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Bezeichnet und datiert oben rechts: HBSL 09.
Work Catalogues
  • Göpel 2021, Nr. 108

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Departement
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 1931

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Associated Persons and Institutions
Associated Source
  • Bibel, Altes Testament, Genesis 11,1-9

Iconclass

Primary
Secondary

Research and Discussion

Provenance

Object History
Max Beckmann (1884-1950), Berlin
verkauft an Henry Bernhard Simms (1861-1922), Hamburg, ca. 1914
vererbt an Gertrud Simms (1873-1973), Hamburg, 1922
Verst. Kunstsalon Paul Cassirer/Hugo Helbing, Berlin, 14. November 1930, Nr. 4, unverkauft
Kunsthandlung Suther, Frankfurt
verkauft als Überweisung des Direktors Georg Swarzenski (1876-1957) an die Städtische Galerie, Frankfurt am Main. 1931.

Information

Since 2001, the Städel Museum has systematically been researching the provenance of all objects that were acquired during the National Socialist period, or that changed owners or could have changed owners during those years. The basis for this research is the “Washington Declaration”, also known as the “Washington Conference Principles”, formulated at the 1998 “Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets” and the subsequent “Joint Declaration”.

The provenance information is based on the sources researched at the time they were published digitally. However, this information can change at any time when new sources are discovered. Provenance research is therefore a continuous process and one that is updated at regular intervals.

Ideally, the provenance information documents an object’s origins from the time it was created until the date when it found its way into the collection. It contains the following details, provided they are known:

  • the type of acquisition and/or the way the object changed hands
  • the owner's name and place of residence
  • the date on which it changed hands

The successive ownership records are separated from each other by a semicolon.

Gaps in the record of a provenance are indicated by the placeholder “…”. Unsupported information is listed in square brackets.

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Conservation and Restoration

Art-technology findings and/or documentation regarding conservation and restoration are available for this work. If interested, please contact .

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Last update

11.09.2023