Perseus 1941

Max Beckmann's ‘Perseus’ is a painting made using oil on canvas, and the date is unknown. The colours and mark making are so intriguing! I love that Beckmann leaves lots of the underpainting showing. The way he’s constructed the triptych – it feels like a really old, weird comic book or a stage set. Take a closer look at the central panel. You can almost feel how Beckmann built up the layers, how the weight of the paint creates a tangible, physical presence. It’s interesting how he uses these heavy outlines, almost like stained glass, to contain these really emotionally charged scenes. The figure in the cage is compelling. Is it a symbol of entrapment, or is it a safe space in a dangerous world? I love this kind of tension, where nothing is easily resolved. Beckmann’s work reminds me of Otto Dix. Both artists aren’t afraid to confront the darker sides of human existence. Neither gives easy answers, and both invite you to question your own perspectives.