Self-Portrait with a Saxophone 1930

Max Beckmann rendered this self-portrait in oil paint, its thick impasto and bold colors characteristic of his style. While seemingly traditional, the very act of choosing this medium has social significance. Oil paint, historically associated with high art, elevates Beckmann’s self-image, challenging class-based distinctions. The visible brushstrokes are not just aesthetic choices; they reflect the physical act of creation, the labor involved in producing the artwork. Beckmann's distinctive use of color and form imbues the painting with cultural resonance, yet the making process itself, the application of paint to canvas, is where much of the work’s meaning lies. Ultimately, "Self-Portrait with a Saxophone" invites us to look beyond the subject matter and consider the materiality and making of the artwork.