A Brief Presence Max Horb lived a life that was as brief as it was quiet. Born in 1882, the Czech painter moved through the world with a limited window of time to leave his mark. His existence ended in 1907, leaving behind a small footprint in the history of Central European art. There is a certain stillness in the records that remain of him. He was a man of his era, working within the boundaries of a life cut short before it could reach its full maturity. The documents we possess do not speak of grand movements or sweeping changes, but rather of a singular, focused existence. The Painted Sel…