Liebermann donated to Singer Laren

June 2020

Gehendes Mädchen by Max Liebermann

Donated to Singer Laren by Mr and Mrs Bühler-Brockhaus

Max Liebermann (1847 – 1935) regularly left his home in Berlin, to spend time working in the Netherlands. At the start of his long career, he studied Dutch artists like Frans Hals. He also spent time working in Paris and at Barbizon.

Liebermann’s paintings of for instance girls from the Amsterdam Orphanage, show his interest in the lives of the poor and members of the working class. Later, he became a very successful society painter.

After meeting Jozef Israëls and other members of the Hague School, Liebermann spent most of his summer holidays drawing, sketching, painting in the Netherlands. Many of his works were created in the area around The Hague and Noordwijk.

Painted in Laren

His “Gehendes Mädchen”, however, was painted on the Brink – the village green – in Laren, in 1897. The work shows a young village girl wearing clogs and traditional dress, walking away from the viewer. It is a scene which Liebermann painted in a series of works, sometimes also referred to as “Schulgang”, the girls were apparently painted while on their way to school.

Jozef Israëls discovered the unspoilt area and Laren around 1870. In 1884, while Liebermann and his bride visited the Netherlands, Israëls took them to what had become an artist colony. Liebermann already new several members of the Laren School, which included artists he had met at The Hague.

The work is currently on display in the museum’s exhibition “Liebermann in Laren”. For during his visits to the small town, Liebermann made many friends including Dutch artist Jan Veth. Both created works showing Laren girls. One of the themes explored in this exhibition is how both artists influenced and stimulated each other.

The exhibition closes 23rd of August 2020.

Liebermann Art Walk

The museum also offers visitors a walk along many of the local spots which inspired Liebermann and fellow artists.