Still Life with Burning Candle
1921
Max Beckmann packed this 1921 canvas with a dizzying array of objects, blending the mundane with the mysterious in classic Expressionist fashion. A bright red candle burns fiercely beside a tall oil lamp, illuminating vibrant pink hyacinths and a scattering of walnuts. An open box reveals a small portrait, while a trumpet lies forgotten in the foreground, hinting at a silenced melody. The tilted frames and cluttered table create a sense of intimate chaos, as if we’ve just stumbled into the artist’s private world.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas and oil paint