The artwork titled “Perseus,” created by German artist Max Beckmann between 1940 and 1941, is a mythological painting rendered in oil on canvas. Embodying Expressionist qualities, it measures 151 cm by 222.5 cm. This artwork can be found at the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany, and was created during Beckmann’s time in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork is a triptych, a common format in Beckmann’s oeuvre, which divides the narrative into three parts. The left panel appears to depict a scene with two characters interacting in a public space, possibly a café or a bar, while the central panel features a muscular figure, possibly Perseus himself, engaging dynamically with another form, implying a moment of high drama or conflict that corresponds to the mythological content. The right panel shows a figure that appears to be confined, suggesting themes of captivity or isolation.
Expressionist in its execution, the artwork features bold colors and rough, heavy brushstrokes that emphasize the emotional intensity and psychological depth characteristic of Beckmann’s work. The distortion of form and space hints at the underlying tension and chaos of the period in which it was created. The triptych format and mythological subject matter may speak to a broader narrative, possibly reflecting the artist’s contemplation of the human condition and the struggle between good and evil during a time of global conflict.
