Stefan Lüddemann: Der Mythos der Moderne

Masonic Lodge "Zum Goldenen Rade" i.O. Osnabrück

The myth of modernism -
Max Beckmann and his century

A lecture by Prof. Dr. Stefan Lüddemann Max Beckmann was not only one of the most influential artists of modernism, he was a solitaire in the midst of the eventful history of the avant-garde. Between Expressionism and New Objectivity, he opposed abstraction as the central tendency of modernism and developed his very own style of figurative representation. Beckmann faced up to his century of crises and wars, reforms and revolutions. In powerful paintings, including many self-portraits and the unique triptychs, he plumbed the depths of human existence. To this end, he created a unique pictorial mythology with which he reflected artistically on his experiences from war to exile. On the 75th anniversary of Beckmann's death this year, his work will be exhibited and discussed anew - as an artistic peak achievement and as a fundamental reflection of human borderline experiences. In 2025, cultural journalist and honorary professor Stefan Lüddemann published a new account of Max Beckmann's life and work with Cologne-based Wienand-Verlag. The lecture will take place on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. in the Lortzinghaus (An der Katharinenkirche 3, 49074 Osnabrück).