Akrobat in der Brücke, Detail (Backbend, Detail) [p. 17]
1876 to 1900
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
sheet: 11 x 20.5 cm (4 5/16 x 8 1/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Max Beckmann
Accession Number
1984.64.35.9
Art Historical Context
Behold Max Beckmann's *Akrobat in der Br, Detail (Backbend, Detail)* a captivating graphite drawing on paper from the late 19th century (18761900). This intimate sheet, measuring just 11 x 20.5 cm, captures a dynamic moment of an acrobat arched in a profound backbend, evoking tension and grace of circus performers. Created early in Beckmann's careerbefore his rise as a leading Expressionist— it showcases his masterful command of line and shading, using graphite to render form with precision and energy. As a study in human anatomy and movement, the work reflects the artist's fascination with t...
About the Artist
Max Beckmann
Max Carl Friedrich Beckmann (1884-1950) stands as one of the most significant German painters of the twentieth century, a complex artist who bridged Expressionism and the New Objectivity while forging a deeply personal visual language. Born in Leipzig into a middle-class family, Beckmann's artistic journey spanned from academic classicism through the traumatic crucible of World War I to a mature s...