Avant-Garde: Max Liebermann and Impressionism in Germany

This stunning exhibition catalog celebrates Max Liebermann, the pioneering figure of German Impressionism, whose own painting and artistic leadership transformed the nation’s cultural landscape. As a groundbreaking painter and head of the Berlin Secession, Max Liebermann championed modernism and introduced French Impressionism to the German Empire. His influence reached far beyond Berlin, sparking a diverse movement that flourished in cities such as Dresden, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Munich. Focusing on Liebermann’s life and legacy, the catalog also examines his achievements as a collector and advocate for the avant-garde. It showcases his celebrated masterpieces alongside works by prominent peers such as Max Slevogt and Lovis Corinth, as well as contributions from more underappreciated figures including Gotthardt Kuehl, Maria Slavona, Lesser Ury, and Fritz von Uhde. With numerous chapter introductions and five longer research essays, the book offers a wide-ranging perspective, including topics such as the artistic exchange between France and Germany; the role of Jewish patrons in fostering Germany’s embrace of French art; and the challenges Liebermann faced during the rise of the Nazi regime. Lavishly illustrated and expertly curated, this catalog provides an essential study of Max Liebermann as the central figure of German Impressionism while situating his work within the broader artistic and historical contexts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.