The Chimney-Sweep

1922

Perched precariously on a rooftop, this soot-stained chimney sweep looks more like a weary mummy than a bringer of good luck. Max Beckmann captured this figure in 1922 Berlin using scratchy, intense lines that make the city behind him feel almost dizzying. While chimney sweeps are traditionally symbols of good fortune in Germany, Beckmann’s expressionist style turns him into a brooding, solitary figure staring out over a jagged skyline of spires and smokestacks. It’s a great example of how Expressionists didn't just paint what they saw, but how it *felt*—in this case, probably exhausted and a bit lonely.

Technique: Lithograph
Material: Paper

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