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The Night, plate seven from Die Hölle

A work made of transfer lithograph on tan imitation japanese paper.
© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

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  • A work made of transfer lithograph on tan imitation japanese paper.

Date:

1919

Artist:

Max Beckmann (German, 1884-1950)
printed by C. Naumann’s Druckerei (German)
published by I. B. Neumann (German)

About this artwork

This print is by far the most well known in the series Hell, reproducing as it does a composition and scene made famous in a painting by Max Beckmann created in March 1919. An average middle-class family is being tortured for no apparent reason by both well-dressed members of German society, like the man in the center, and a working-class figure in a cap at the right. Beckmann revealed, seemingly without comment, the randomness of violence, as well as its everyday quality (exemplified by the “normal” interior). The howling dog to the left parallels the image of hell from the opening print.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Max Beckmann

Title

The Night, plate seven from Die Hölle

Place

Germany (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1919

Medium

Transfer lithograph on tan imitation Japanese paper

Dimensions

Image: 55.4 × 69 cm (21 13/16 × 27 3/16 in.); Sheet: 61.2 × 87 cm (24 1/8 × 34 5/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Dr. and Mrs. Martin Gecht

Reference Number

1989.685.7

Copyright

© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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