Revelry
1899
Medium
graphite with touches of crayon on wove paper
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Max Beckmann
Accession Number
1984.64.64.41
Art Historical Context
**Revelry** (1899) is an early drawing by Max Beckmann, renowned German artist who later became a towering figure in Expressionism. Created when Beckmann was just beginning his artistic journey, this work on wove paper uses graphite with subtle touches of crayon, showcasing his budding mastery of line and subtle color. Wove paper, with its smooth, even texture, was a favored support for detailed drawings in the late 19th century, for precise shading and fluid marks that capture movement and energy. The title *Revelry* evokes scenes of joyous abandon—perhaps dancers or revelers in motion—refle...
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...