Circus (1946)

Max Beckmann is the artist behind "Circus", dated 1946. Context for 1946: The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. After 1945 the centre of Western art activity shifted to New York, where Abstract Expressionism was followed by Pop art, Minimalism, and Conceptual art. Illustration, a short history: The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are often described as a golden age of book and magazine illustration. Illustration serves a text or a story, a tradition that runs from decorated medieval manuscripts to printed book plates, magazines, and posters. It is listed in the Illustration collection. The image is in portrait orientation.

Buying "Circus" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

German, 1884–1950

If you like the visual language of Max Beckmann, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.