“The Little Fish” is an artwork by Max Beckmann, dated to 1933. It is executed in oil on canvas and exemplifies the Expressionist movement. The dimensions of this genre painting are 115 by 135 centimeters. The piece currently resides at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, France.
The artwork depicts a scene featuring three figures set against a coastal backdrop. On the left, a woman sits upright, dressed in a classically draped yellow garment and a white headpiece, looking away from the viewer with an air of nonchalance. Beside her, the central figure — a bare-chested individual with a red headband — gazes downward towards a small fish held in their lap by the hands of the person sitting on the right. The person on the right, adorned in a striped blue and white swimsuit and a headscarf, attentively focuses on the fish, which is an object of collective interest. The use of bold, clear lines and vivid colors contribute to the dynamic and expressive quality of the painting. In the background, serene blue waters and a sailboat lend a sense of calm and context, contrasting with the psychological intensity suggested by the interaction of the figures. The spacious sky hints at openness, setting the stage for the seaside encounter portrayed in Beckmann’s work.
