Max Pechstein
An Adventure into Expressionism
Max Pechstein, The conversation, 1920 
Max Pechstein, Evening in the Harbour of Łeba, 1951 
Max Pechstein, Portrait of Marta, 1949 
Max Pechstein, At Lake Garder, 1924 
Max Pechstein, Women on the Shore, 1953 
Max Pechstein, Female unicyclists, 1928 
Max Pechstein, Breaking Wave, 1943 
Max Pechstein, Portrait of a Gentleman (Wolfgang Gurlitt), 1919 
Max Pechstein, Self-Portrait with Pipe, um 1946 
Max Pechstein, Sunflowers with Blue Vase, 1948
Recognised by many contemporaries as the foremost member of the Brücke group of art ists, Max Pechstein played a pivotal role in the German avant-garde during the early decades of the 20th century. He was the first Expressionist to be admitted to the Prussian Academy of Arts. His importance for modern art stems above all from his seminal role in the emergence of German Expressionism.
The retrospective held at Lentos features important works from various creative periods. In addition to Dresden and Berlin, the Baltic coast also represented an important place of work and inspiration. In 1913, the Fritz Gurlitt art salon in Berlin organised Pechstein’s first major solo exhibition. Wolfgang Gurlitt was also instrumental in sponsoring Pechstein’s voyage to the South Seas, where he sought a life in harmony with nature on the Palau Islands, an endeavour that came to an end with the outbreak of the First World War.
After the war, Pechstein rediscovered his creative energy in Berlin. In 1937, over 500 of his works were confiscated as part of the “Degenerate Art” campaign. In the post-war period, he earned recognition, but also criticism. Numerous South Sea motifs, recreated from memory, were produced during this late phase of his artistic career. Over 100 works, including many seascapes of the Baltic and South Seas, are on display for the very first time in Austria at Lentos. One of the focal points of the exhibition is Pechstein’s friendship with Wolfgang Gurlitt, the founder of the precursor to the Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz
Curator: Brigitte Reutner-Doneus
Exhibition Design: Klemen Breitfuss
In cooperation with: Institut für Kulturaustausch Tübingen, KUNSTSAMMLUNGEN ZWICKAU Max- Pechstein Museum, Max Pechstein Stiftung
Publication
A monograph accompanying the exhibition, Max Pechstein – Vision and Work, has been published by Hirmer Verlag. It features essays in German and English by Aya Soika, Eveline Suter, and Annika Weise.
224 pages, €39.90
Veranstaltungen
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 22.04 | Eröffnung: Max Pechstein. Abenteuer Expressionismus Die Retrospektive im Lentos vereint Schlüsselwerke aus verschiedenen Schaffensphasen. Eintritt frei. | 7:00 pm–10:00 pm |
| Thu 23.04 | Mein Onkel Max, zu „Max Pechstein“ Führung durch die Ausstellung mit Julia Pechstein, der Enkelin des Künstlers. Dauer 60 Minuten, max. 25 Personen, Führungkarte € 4 (zzgl. Eintritt),Anmeldung erbeten unter +43 732 7070 3614 oder online | 6:00 pm–7:00 pm |
| Tue 05.05 | Baby Tour: Max Pechstein. Adventure Expressionism A relaxed tour of the exhibition, specially tailored to the needs of visitors with babies. Cost: museum admission only. | 10:30 am–11:30 am |
| Thu 07.05 | Curator’s tour: Backgrounds and contexts of “Max Pechstein” Curator’s tour with Brigitte Reutner-Doneus. Duration: 60 minutes, max. 25 participants. Guided tour ticket €4 (plus admission). Registration requested at +43 732 7070 3614 or online. | 6:00 pm–7:00 pm |
| Fri 15.05 | Painting Studio: Expressionism for Adults, on “Max Pechstein” Expressionism is an art form that aims for heightened impact. In this workshop with Klaus Scheuringer (artist and art educator), participants explore how to evoke strong emotions and make both the inner essence of the subject and their own emotional experience visible. The most important means of expression is color. Participants will be provided with a typical painting setup featuring objects and people as motifs. Painting materials (paint, brushes, paper, canvas) are supplied, but you are welcome to bring your own (please no oil paints). For questions: klaus.scheuringer@lentos.at. Dates (bookable as a package only): Cost: €90 (for all three days, including materials) | 3:00 pm–6:00 pm |
| Sat 16.05 | Painting Studio: Expressionism for Adults, on “Max Pechstein” Expressionism is an art form that aims for heightened impact. In this workshop with Klaus Scheuringer (artist and art educator), participants explore how to evoke strong emotions and make both the inner essence of the subject and their own emotional experience visible. The most important means of expression is color. Participants will be provided with a typical painting setup featuring objects and people as motifs. Painting materials (paint, brushes, paper, canvas) are supplied, but you are welcome to bring your own (please no oil paints). For questions: klaus.scheuringer@lentos.at. Dates (bookable as a package only): Cost: €90 (for all three days, including materials) | 2:00 pm–4:00 pm |
| Sun 17.05 | Painting Studio: Expressionism for Adults, on “Max Pechstein” Expressionism is an art form that aims for heightened impact. In this workshop with Klaus Scheuringer (artist and art educator), participants explore how to evoke strong emotions and make both the inner essence of the subject and their own emotional experience visible. The most important means of expression is color. Participants will be provided with a typical painting setup featuring objects and people as motifs. Painting materials (paint, brushes, paper, canvas) are supplied, but you are welcome to bring your own (please no oil paints). For questions: klaus.scheuringer@lentos.at. Dates (bookable as a package only): Cost: €90 (for all three days, including materials) | 2:00 pm–5:00 pm |
| Thu 21.05 | Filmabend und Gespräch, zu „Max Pechstein“ Das Lentos präsentiert im Auditorium den Film Max Pechstein – Geschichte eines Malers, 2019 (Wilfried Hauke, Dauer: 84 Min.) und lädt anschlie ßend zu einem Gespräch mit der Ausstellungs kuratorin Brigitte Reutner-Doneus. Dauer 120 Minuten, max. 25 Personen, Führungkarte € 4 (zzgl. Eintritt),Anmeldung erbeten unter +43 732 7070 3614 oder online | 6:00 pm–8:00 pm |
| Thu 11.06 | Lecture: The Eternal Rhythm of the Sea, on “Max Pechstein” Julia Pechstein, the artist’s granddaughter, speaks about Pechstein’s painting stays on the Baltic Sea coast. Duration: 60 minutes. Ticket €4 (plus admission). Registration requested at +43 732 7070 3614 or online. | 6:00 pm–7:00 pm |
| Sat 13.06 | Guided tour in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) of the exhibition „Max Pechstein” Guided tours with an Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) interpreter. Duration: 1 hour. Free for people with hearing impairments. No registration required. | 4:00 pm–5:00 pm |
Cooperation
The exhibition was developed in cooperation with the Institut für Kulturaustausch Tübingen, the KUNSTSAMMLUNGEN ZWICKAU Max- Pechstein Museum, the Max Pechstein Stiftung and private lenders.