Max Liebermann

Born in Berlin in 1847, Max Liebermann became one of the most important painters of German Impressionism. He studied in Weimar and spent formative time in Paris and the Netherlands, where he absorbed ideas from realism and plein-air painting before shaping a style of his own.

Early in his career, he was known for unsentimental scenes of workers and ordinary people. Later, his art grew brighter and more relaxed, turning toward middle-class leisure, portraits, and the famous garden views connected with his house at Wannsee. He was also a key cultural figure in Berlin and helped found the Berlin Secession, which challenged more conservative art institutions.

Liebermann was born into a Jewish family and remained deeply tied to Berlin throughout his life. He died there in 1935, leaving behind a body of work that links realism and impressionism with unusual clarity and feeling.