author
Max Liebermann
1847–1935
A leading voice of German Impressionism, he painted everyday life, gardens, riders, and beach scenes with warmth and sharp observation. His long career also placed him at the center of Berlin's art world during a time of major cultural change.
1 Audiobook
Die Phantasie in der Malerei
by Max Liebermann
About the author
Born in Berlin in 1847, Max Liebermann became one of the most important painters and printmakers in Germany. He studied art in Weimar and went on to develop a style that moved from strong naturalism toward Impressionism, often focusing on workers, ordinary daily life, and later the relaxed light of parks, gardens, and the seaside.
Liebermann played a major role in modern German art beyond his own paintings. He helped found the Berlin Secession and later served as president of the Prussian Academy of Arts, giving him real influence over the artistic life of his time. His work was also shaped by close contact with French and Dutch art, which helped him bring a fresh, modern outlook to German painting.
He died in Berlin in 1935. Today he is remembered not only for his luminous paintings and prints, but also for the way he helped open German art to modern European ideas; his former summer home on Lake Wannsee now serves as the Liebermann Villa museum.