“Birds’ Hell”, a painting created by Max Beckmann in 1938, exemplifies the Expressionist movement through its vivid and tormenting depiction. The artwork is an oil on canvas measuring 47 1/4 x 63 inches. It is considered a genre painting, which typically depicts scenes of everyday life, although in this case, the subject matter is highly allegorical and far from ordinary.
The artwork presents a nightmarish scene dominated by bird-like creatures engaging in grotesque and violent acts upon human figures. The birds, portrayed in striking colors, are humanoid in posture and gesture, suggesting a sinister parody of human social interaction and the inversion of the natural order. In the center of the composition, a bird with a bright, fiery breast stands before a candle, projecting an ominous shadow. To the left, another bird-like figure appears to gesture pleadingly, its hands raised in a position of either supplication or defense.
The atmosphere is oppressive, the space crowded with aggressive forms and surreal juxtapositions. Human forms seem to be persecuted and tormented, with expressions of despair and futility rendered in expressionist style. The colors are bold and intense, with a palette that emphasizes dark tones punctuated by areas of bright, almost violent color, contributing to the sense of chaos and emotional disturbance.
In its entirety, the artwork seems to be a metaphor for a world turned upside down, a civilization where brutality and inhumanity have taken wing. The piece can be interpreted as a reflection of Beckmann’s response to the political turmoil and societal decay of his time, particularly to the rise of authoritarian regimes that marked the late 1930s.
