By Sebastian Bauer
On the occasion of the 175th birthday of the Berlin artist Max Liebermann, the Alte Nationalgalerie has celebrities and experts present their favorite paintings.
“When I was in the National Gallery for the first time, I stuck with Liebermann. His line was so casual,” says Tom Schilling (40). The famous actor was only eleven or twelve years old at the time.
Actor Tom Schilling (40) has loved the “Country House in Hilversum (1901) since childhood Photo: SMB
For today’s 175th birthday of the Impressionist Max Liebermann (1847-1935), Schilling recalls this first encounter with his paintings for an exhibition at the Alte Nationalgalerie. A total of 13 people present their favorite pictures in short videos on “Mein Liebermann”, which can be played in the exhibition.
The Berlin painter Max Liebermann (1847-1935) Photo: picture-alliance / akg-images
“The show is a fresh, summery selection that is intended to show in many voices what we still associate with Liebermann today,” says National Gallery Director Ralph Gleis (48). He himself opted for the idyllic “Stevenstift in Leiden” (1889/90) and raves about “relief-like smoothed colors” that capture “different moods of light”.
The museum has a total of 22 works by Max Liebermann in its collection, making it the largest collection in Berlin. However, according to Gleis, it was easy for the participants to decide on a particular painting.
An early Liebermann masterpiece is this depiction of “Gänserupferinnen” (1871/72) Photo: State Museums in Berlin
Actor Schilling likes the “Country House in Hilversum” (1901), artist Valérie Favre (62) likes the “Portrait Wilhelm Bode” (1904) and curator Inka Bertz (63) likes the “Portrait Study Emil Rathenau” (1908). The young art fans Theodora and Mathilde from the association Little Friends of the National Gallery are enthusiastic about the “School for Toddlers in Amsterdam” (1880): “If you look longer, it is as if you were sitting in the room and watching the children.”
“Self-Portrait with Sports Cap at the Easel” (1925) Photo: State Museums in Berlin
The approximately two-minute videos were recorded in no time at all, because everyone immediately knew something to tell about Max Liebermann, says Gleis. The fact that the painter is getting a rather small exhibition for his birthday has to do with the fact that a large Secession show with Liebermann is planned for 2023.
Until November 13th, Bodestr. 1-3, 10/5 euros
Of course, Liebermann also immortalized his sweet home in his art: “Haus am Wannsee” (1926) Photo: State Museums in Berlin
Stadtmuseum acquires Max Liebermann’s bust
The Stadtmuseum has acquired a bust by the painter Max Liebermann that was already in its possession. The bust was confiscated from the widow Martha Liebermann as a result of Nazi persecution. According to the museum, this was the result of an examination of the ownership situation and the circumstances of the loss of ownership at the time.
The plaster bust was created by the sculptor Edmund Möller in 1917 on the occasion of Liebermann’s 70th birthday Photo: Stadtmuseum Berlin/Oliver Ziebe
Accordingly, the conditions for a return to the heirs are met. The museum has now acquired the bust from the estate. The plaster bust was created by the sculptor Edmund Möller in 1917 on the occasion of Liebermann’s 70th birthday.
