Day and Dream 1946

Editor: This is the cover of "Day and Dream," a suite of lithographs from 1946 by Max Beckmann, held at the Städel Museum. It has this very muted palette and quite dreamlike quality. The globe is interesting - I'm really curious about its symbolism. What do you see in this piece, more generally? Curator: Ah, Beckmann. For me, he’s an acquired taste, a bit like strong coffee. "Day and Dream"...it evokes this post-war world. That globe…well, consider it as a symbol. It is our yearning for a different world, for a safe, new world order, but perhaps we carry this desire awkwardly like a clunky old boot. We hold this wish on a pedestal, so it is clearly visible. Editor: A clunky boot… I see what you mean. Why put that boot next to a globe? Curator: It’s an expressionist fingerprint. This placement forces us to confront contrasts – the fragile world with a hefty presence; and even more - the inner versus the outer life, perhaps? It makes me wonder, doesn’t it make you think about our dreams and reality. Is it accessible, I wonder. Editor: It really makes me think. It certainly creates a complex, unsettling vibe. So thanks for clarifying what's behind its rough exterior! Curator: The pleasure was mine! There's often beauty in the unsettling. I’m delighted you can share this with me!