Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The Duchess: First Illustration for Chapter One - Max Beckmann
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
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Description
A 1922 drypoint etching by German Expressionist Max Beckmann, featuring three figures rendered with sharp, angular lines and psychological intensity.
This drypoint etching by Max Beckmann, created in 1922, belongs to a series of illustrations produced for his own literary work, 'Die Herzogin' (The Duchess). Beckmann, a central figure in German Expressionism, utilised the medium of printmaking to explore psychological tension and the fractured nature of post-war European society. His approach to the plate is characterised by an economy of line, where sharp, angular marks define the figures and their immediate environment.
The composition presents three figures in a compressed, interior space. The central figure, a man with a heavy, mask-like face, is flanked by two women. The woman on the left rests her chin upon her hand, her gaze directed away from the viewer, while the figure on the right is rendered with more abstract, geometric lines. Beckmann avoids smooth transitions, opting instead for a jagged, nervous energy that permeates the scene. The background is suggested through minimal, intersecting lines, which create a sense of claustrophobia rather than spatial depth.
Beckmann's work from this period often reflects the disillusionment following the First World War. His figures are rarely at rest, even when seated. They appear caught in a state of internal conflict or silent communication. The stark contrast between the black ink and the cream paper emphasises the raw, unpolished quality of the drypoint technique. By stripping away unnecessary detail, Beckmann forces the viewer to focus on the posture, the expressions, and the uneasy proximity of the subjects. This print offers a glimpse into the artist's graphic practice, where the act of drawing directly onto the metal plate allowed for an immediate, visceral translation of his vision. It remains a compelling example of how printmaking served as a primary vehicle for his narrative and emotional explorations.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
The Duchess: First Illustration for Chapter One - Max Beckmann
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Max Beckmann
Beckmann was dismissed from his teaching post in Frankfurt the day after Hitler's 1937 speech denouncing "degenerate art". He left Germany that same evening and did not return. The speed of the departure, one speech, one night, one exile, defined the rest of his life.
He was born in Leipzig in 1884 and trained at the Weimar Academy. His early work was relatively conventional; the First World War, where he served as a medical orderly, shattered both his style and his psychology. The paintings that followed, dense, allegorical, packed with symbolic figures in compressed, claustrophobic spaces, resist easy classification. His monumental triptychs, painted in exile in Amsterdam and later St Louis, combine mythology, autobiography and contemporary history.
He remains one of the twentieth century's most ambitious figurative painters, comparable in scale and intention to Picasso but less interested in formal innovation than in moral weight. He died in New York in 1950, at sixty-five.
He was born in Leipzig in 1884 and trained at the Weimar Academy. His early work was relatively conventional; the First World War, where he served as a medical orderly, shattered both his style and his psychology. The paintings that followed, dense, allegorical, packed with symbolic figures in compressed, claustrophobic spaces, resist easy classification. His monumental triptychs, painted in exile in Amsterdam and later St Louis, combine mythology, autobiography and contemporary history.
He remains one of the twentieth century's most ambitious figurative painters, comparable in scale and intention to Picasso but less interested in formal innovation than in moral weight. He died in New York in 1950, at sixty-five.
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Fine Art Framed
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The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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