The Max Beckmann Archive, originally part of the first Max Beckmann Gesellschaft, is devoted to one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. The Archive’s chief aim is to collect any objects or information that shed light on the various facets of Max Beckmann’s life and work. The Archive also contributes to research on the artist by issuing publications, mounting exhibitions, and organizing series of lectures. It documents systematically all the material in its possession, including autographs, newspaper cuttings, and photographs, and makes them available to the public for research purposes. 

Max Beckmann

1884                
Born on February 12 in Leipzig

1900–03      
Attends the Grand Ducal Art School in Weimar

1903–04       
Lives in Paris

1904–14       
Lives in Berlin, where he has a successful career as a creator of landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, still lifes, and ambitious, large-scale figure paintings on religious and contemporary subjects   

1914–16       
Active as a voluntary medical orderly in World War I 

Makes many drawings and prints of war subjects and writes the Briefe im Kriege (Letters in Wartime)

1916–32        
Lives in Frankfurt am Main. His art changes profoundly from around 1915 (Night, 1918–19)

Creates series of prints on war subjects and on city life after the war. The theater, circus, cabaret, and fairs become important themes of his art. Travels widely in Italy and stays for long periods in Paris

Gradually becomes one of Germany’s best known and most successful painters

1925
Divorces his first wife, Minna Tube, and marries Mathilde (“Quappi”) von Kaulbach

1932
Begins working on his first triptych, Departure  

1933                  
Along with many other artists, he is branded “degenerate” by the Nazis and dismissed from his post at the Städel art school. Moves to Berlin

1937                 
Emigrates to Amsterdam

1938                 
Gives the talk “My Theory of Painting” on the occasion of the exhibition “Twentieth century German art” in London

Life becomes increasingly difficult after the outbreak of World War II in 1939. German troops occupy the Netherlands

Beckmann is extremely productive, creating further triptychs and such other major works as the illustrations to the Apocalypse and to Faust, Part Two      

1947–48      
Teaches at Washington University Art School in St. Louis. Writes Letters to a Woman Painter

1948
Settles for good in the U.S.A. and becomes professor at the Brooklyn Museum Art School in New York

1950                 
Dies on December 27 in New York after finishing his ninth triptych