Elefantenkopf (Head of an Elephant) [p. 65]
1876 to 1900
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
graphite on perforated paper
Dimensions
page size: 13 x 19.6 cm (5 1/8 x 7 11/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Max Beckmann
Accession Number
1984.64.63.19
Art Historical Context
Discover the intriguing *Elefantenkopf ( of an Elephant)*, delicate graphite drawing by Max Beckmann on perforated paper, measuring 13 x 19.6 cm. Created between 1876 and 1900, this sketch captures the artist's keen observational eye through fluid lines and subtle shading,oking the majestic form of elephant's head. The paper hints at its origin in a sketchbook, a common tool for artists honing their craft with quick, expressive studies. Beckmann, a pivotal figure in early 20th-century German, often explored bold forms and psychological depth in his later Expressionist works, but this early dr...
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...