Portrait of Minna Beckmann-Tube 1924

Editor: So, here we have Max Beckmann's "Portrait of Minna Beckmann-Tube" from 1924. It’s a striking painting, the woman seems… almost trapped within the canvas. I find myself wondering about her expression; it seems contemplative, maybe a little sad. What do you make of this portrait? Curator: Trapped, you say? I like that. Beckmann always has these layers. This is his wife, and knowing that adds a certain... zing, doesn’t it? There's a definite tension in her gaze, an internal searching, and the almost brutal honesty of the brushstrokes adds to this raw emotion. Editor: Honesty is a great word! Is there a symbolic element to the props she is holding like the fan and that framed mirror behind her? Curator: The mirror feels especially relevant; beckoning. What's being reflected versus what she wants us to see? And those bloody drumsticks. Beckmann's humor comes out even in his darker themes; He has an obsession with clowns. Don't you think a touch of jest underscores tragedy, or the other way around? He uses such details as a clue; something about who she really is… Editor: It really gives one something to reflect on - a visual tension of beauty and discomfort, and humor. Curator: It does. Looking closer gives me pause and it stays with me - that’s what is compelling about it, really. And me with my bad eyes, can really see something raw within that gaze. I really enjoyed taking this deep-dive, though. Thanks!