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Student Artwork Guide

Self-Portrait in Florence

Max Beckmann, 1907

Name Class Date
Max Beckmann, Self-Portrait in Florence (1907). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Max Beckmann originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/max-beckmann/
Artist’s dates
1884 – 1950
Painted
1907
Medium
Oil On Canvas
Original size
90 x 98 cm
Movement
Expressionism Colour and shape deliberately distorted so the picture shows an emotion rather than a likeness.
Period
Modern
Artistic style
Expressionist portrait
Influences
Cézanne, Van Gogh, Blake, Rembrandt, Rubens, Bosch, Bruegel, Grünewald
Notable elements or techniques
Cigarette, window view
Subject or theme
Self-portrait of artist

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Max Beckmann died in 1950; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2020.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann

How big is it?

The original measures 90 × 98 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1880
  2. 1890
  3. 1900
  4. 1910
  5. 1920
  6. 1930
  7. 1940
  8. 1950

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 66 at death.

Painted when the artist was 23. The artist lived to 66. 2 of the 81 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Max Beckmann (1884–1950) ▲ this work, 1907 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1925 Main working years: 1925–1944 Late works: from 1944

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #9f8663

    Catalogued palette

    • #9F8663
    • #16151F
    • #C1CCCE
    • #514031

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Max Beckmann over the last twelve months — 49 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 25.6%6,000 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 10.3%2,400 visits
    3. 3 France 6.8%1,600 visits
    4. 4 Germany 5.6%1,300 visits
    5. 5 Spain 5.6%1,300 visits
    6. 6 Argentina 3.4%800 visits
    7. 7 United Kingdom 3.4%800 visits
    8. 8 Italy 3.4%800 visits
    9. 9 Colombia 3.0%700 visits
    10. 10 Hong Kong 3.0%700 visits
    11. · 39 other countries 29.9%7,000 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Max Beckmann

    1. 1 The Night, 1919 51.4%18,700 visits
    2. 2 The Iron Bridge (View of Frankfurt), 1922 9.6%3,500 visits
    3. 3 Great Scene of Agony, 1906 3.8%1,400 visits
    4. 4 Columbine, 1950 1.6%600 visits
    5. 5 The actors, 1942 1.6%600 visits
    6. 6 Odysseus and Calypso, 1943 1.6%600 visits
    7. 7 Self Portrait with a Bucket Hat, 1921 1.6%600 visits
    8. 8 Rugby players, 1929 1.4%500 visits
    9. 9 Bird's hell, 1938 1.4%500 visits
    10. 10 Dancing bar in Baden-Baden, Bayerische St, 1923 1.4%500 visits
    11. 11 The Old Actress, 1926 1.4%500 visits
    12. 12 Self-Portrait in Florence, 1907 this painting 0.8%300 visits
    13. 13 Seascape with poplars, 1924 0.8%300 visits
    14. 14 Family Picture, Moma NY, 1920 0.8%300 visits
    15. 15 Still Life with Large Green Fruits 0.8%300 visits
    16. 16 Argonaux 0.8%300 visits
    17. 17 Temptation, 1937 0.5%200 visits
    18. 18 Actresses, 1946 0.5%200 visits
    19. 19 Self-Portrait with Trumpet, 1938 0.5%200 visits
    20. 20 The King, 1937 0.5%200 visits

    Together these works take 82.8% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 221 works by this artist, of which 72 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 12 of them, with 0.8% of that attention (300 visits). The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann

    Subject and Composition

    The canvas opens onto a man in a tailored suit, his white shirt crisp beneath a dark coat that drapes with quiet authority. In one hand he cradles a cigarette, the ember’s glow mirroring the faint light that spills through a window behind him. The background is a muted landscape of trees, their silhouettes softened by distance, suggesting an open Florentine courtyard. Beckmann places himself at the center, yet his gaze is not directed toward the viewer; it lingers on the horizon beyond the glass, hinting at introspection and the weight of unseen thoughts.

    Style and Technique

    Beckmann’s brushwork here is vigorous yet controlled, a hallmark of early expressionism that would later evolve into more distorted forms. The oil paint is applied in thick, impasto layers, giving texture to the coat’s folds and the cigarette’s ash. He uses a palette dominated by earthy browns and muted blues, punctuated by the stark white of the shirt and the subtle glow of the ember. The edges are softened with gentle blending, yet the overall composition retains a sense of solidity that anchors the figure against the hazy backdrop.

    Historical Context and Symbolism

    Painted in 1907, this self‑portrait emerges at a pivotal moment when Beckmann was transitioning from academic realism toward a more personal, expressive language. The cigarette—a symbol of modernity and perhaps the artist’s own anxieties—contrasts with the timeless setting of Florence, a city steeped in Renaissance heritage. The window frames a view that could represent both escape and confinement, suggesting the duality of an artist caught between tradition and innovation. In this light, the portrait becomes a dialogue between past and present, personal identity and broader cultural currents.

    Emotional Resonance and Interior Design Appeal

    The painting’s somber palette and contemplative mood invite viewers into a quiet space of reflection. Its size—90 by 98 centimeters—makes it an ideal focal point for living rooms or study areas where one seeks depth without overwhelming the room. The subtle interplay of light and shadow, coupled with Beckmann’s expressive brushwork, creates an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. For collectors and interior designers alike, this work offers a timeless piece that speaks to the human condition while complementing sophisticated décor with its understated elegance.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Max Beckmann

    Born in Leipzig, Germany

    early life and artistic development

    max beckmann, a renowned german painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, and writer, was born on february 12, 1884, in leipzig, saxony. his artistic journey began with academically correct depictions, which later transformed into distorted figures and spaces, reflecting his altered vision of humanity after serving as a medical orderly in world war i.

    artistic style and influences

    beckmann's style, rooted in the imagery of medieval stained glass, was influenced by various artists, including cézanne, van gogh, blake, rembrandt, and rubens. he also drew inspiration from northern european artists of the late middle ages and early renaissance, such as bosch, bruegel, and matthias grünewald.

    notable works and exhibitions

    the bark (acquired by the national gallery in berlin) self-portrait in tuxedo (purchased in 1928) * retrospectives at the städtische kunsthalle mannheim (1928) and in basle and zurich (1930)

    later life and exile

    beckmann's fortunes changed with the rise of adolf hitler, leading to his dismissal from the art school in frankfurt and the confiscation of over 500 of his works. he lived in self-imposed exile in amsterdam for ten years, failing to obtain a visa for the united states.

    legacy

    taught at the art schools of washington university in st. louis and the brooklyn museum first retrospective in the united states took place in 1948 at the city art museum, saint louis * max-slevogt galerie, germany, features a collection of his works

    max-slevogt galerie, germany

    history of painting

    max beckmann's artworks on AllPaintingsStore

    key dates: born: february 12, 1884 died: december 27, 1950

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Self-Portrait in Florence

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Beckmann, Max. Self-Portrait in Florence. 1907, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/
    APA
    Beckmann, Max (1907). Self-Portrait in Florence [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/
    Chicago
    Max Beckmann. Self-Portrait in Florence. 1907. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/
    Harvard
    Beckmann, Max (1907) Self-Portrait in Florence. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/max-beckmann-self-portrait-in-florence-8XYK37-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: self-portrait, expressionism, portrait. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at The Night (1919), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Expressionism: Colour and shape deliberately distorted so the picture shows an emotion rather than a likeness. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Self-Portrait in Florence — Max Beckmann Part 5 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What is the creation date of "Self-Portrait in Florence" by Max Beckmann?

    The creation of "Self-Portrait in Florence" by Max Beckmann is dated 1907.

    What atmosphere would a reproduction of "Self-Portrait in Florence" by Max Beckmann bring to a room?

    The bold atmosphere of "Self-Portrait in Florence" by Max Beckmann matches its recommended space: a hotel lobby.

    How light is "Self-Portrait in Florence" overall?

    The perceived brightness of "Self-Portrait in Florence" by Max Beckmann is shadow. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.