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Lot Essay
The present work, painted in Amsterdam in 1943, refers to Beckmann's stay in Cap Martin on the French Riviera in the spring of 1939.
Beckmann left Germany for exile in the summer of 1937, after the fanatical speech by Hitler in which the Dictator declared relentless war on all artists who did not submit to Nazism. Beckmann was among the artists represented at the infamous 'Degenerate Art' exhibition, and following that show he left the country, never to return.
After the outbreak of war, travelling to the south of France became virtually impossible for Beckmann and he produced a series of Riviera paintings in homage to the happy summer he had spent there shortly before the conflict. These pictures were painted from memory and with the help of pencil sketches and photographs that his wife Quappi had taken in 1939.
The title Aufziehendes Gewitter (Approaching Thunderstorm) undoubtedly relates to the sense of foreboding that Beckmann felt at the National Socialists' rise to power. While his stays in the south of France were a welcome respite from the turmoil of Germany, this painting was coloured with the wisdom of hindsight, from occupied Holland.
In a letter dated 26 April 1939 Beckmann wrote to Stephan Lackner:
"Cap Martin really did wonders for me and gave colour to my nerves and ideas. I got really inspired and it will take twenty years to realise it all."
Beckmann left Germany for exile in the summer of 1937, after the fanatical speech by Hitler in which the Dictator declared relentless war on all artists who did not submit to Nazism. Beckmann was among the artists represented at the infamous 'Degenerate Art' exhibition, and following that show he left the country, never to return.
After the outbreak of war, travelling to the south of France became virtually impossible for Beckmann and he produced a series of Riviera paintings in homage to the happy summer he had spent there shortly before the conflict. These pictures were painted from memory and with the help of pencil sketches and photographs that his wife Quappi had taken in 1939.
The title Aufziehendes Gewitter (Approaching Thunderstorm) undoubtedly relates to the sense of foreboding that Beckmann felt at the National Socialists' rise to power. While his stays in the south of France were a welcome respite from the turmoil of Germany, this painting was coloured with the wisdom of hindsight, from occupied Holland.
In a letter dated 26 April 1939 Beckmann wrote to Stephan Lackner:
"Cap Martin really did wonders for me and gave colour to my nerves and ideas. I got really inspired and it will take twenty years to realise it all."