Three Women in the Studio
- Artist
- Max Beckmann, German, 1884–1950
- Date
- 1908
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- Berlin, Berlin state, Germany, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 216
- Dimensions
- 43 5/8 x 47 7/8 in. (110.8 x 121.6 cm)
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 835:1983
NOTES
Beckmann’s fascination with the human form was underpinned by close study of nude models. Here, three women pose in the upper floor studio of the artist’s house near Berlin. Each is in a different state of undress with the most prominent figure completely nude and pulling her red hair behind her head. As with many of Beckmann’s early works, the painting is inscribed HBSL at upper right, an abbreviation for "Herr Beckmann Seiner Liebsten" (Mister Beckmann to his love), a dedication to his first wife, Minna.
Provenance
by 1913 - 1962
Dr. Hanns Rabe (1890-1959), Berlin, Germany; Mrs. Rabe, Berlin, Germany, by inheritance from her husband [1]
1962 - 1983
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at auction at the Galerie Gerd Rosen, Berlin, "Auktion Nr. 38," May 8, 1962, lot no. 967 [2]
1983 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, bequest of Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Göpel's catalogue raisonné, cat. no. 101 [Göpel, Erhard and Barbara Göpel. "Max Beckmann: Katalog der Gemälde." Bern: Kornfeld & Cie., 1976]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] Max Beckmann kept lists of most of his paintings which often included the dates that they were worked on and notes on who purchased them. This painting is noted on Beckmann's Hermsdorf list for the fall and winter of 1908 as number 77 and as owned by "Hans [sic] Rabe." Dr. Hanns Rabe, a homeopathic physician, is listed as the owner of this painting, along with a number of other paintings by Beckmann, in a 1913 publication [Kaiser, Hans. "Max Beckmann." Künstler unserer Zeit I. Berlin: Paul Cassirer, cat. no. 77]. He is also included as the lender in a 1928 exhibition catalogue ["Max Beckmann: Das gesammelte Werk, Gemälde, Graphik, Handzeichnungen aus den Jahren 1905 bis 1927." Mannheim: Städtische Kunsthalle Mannheim, 1928, cat. 11].
[2] According to record sheets maintained by Morton D. May, May purchased this painting at the Gerd Rosen auction [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. The Galerie Gerd Rosen auction catalogue lists Prof. Hans [sic] Rabe as the former owner of the painting [copy, SLAM document files].
[3] Last Will and Testament of M. D. May dated June 11, 1982 [copy, May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1983.
Dr. Hanns Rabe (1890-1959), Berlin, Germany; Mrs. Rabe, Berlin, Germany, by inheritance from her husband [1]
1962 - 1983
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at auction at the Galerie Gerd Rosen, Berlin, "Auktion Nr. 38," May 8, 1962, lot no. 967 [2]
1983 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, bequest of Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is Göpel's catalogue raisonné, cat. no. 101 [Göpel, Erhard and Barbara Göpel. "Max Beckmann: Katalog der Gemälde." Bern: Kornfeld & Cie., 1976]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] Max Beckmann kept lists of most of his paintings which often included the dates that they were worked on and notes on who purchased them. This painting is noted on Beckmann's Hermsdorf list for the fall and winter of 1908 as number 77 and as owned by "Hans [sic] Rabe." Dr. Hanns Rabe, a homeopathic physician, is listed as the owner of this painting, along with a number of other paintings by Beckmann, in a 1913 publication [Kaiser, Hans. "Max Beckmann." Künstler unserer Zeit I. Berlin: Paul Cassirer, cat. no. 77]. He is also included as the lender in a 1928 exhibition catalogue ["Max Beckmann: Das gesammelte Werk, Gemälde, Graphik, Handzeichnungen aus den Jahren 1905 bis 1927." Mannheim: Städtische Kunsthalle Mannheim, 1928, cat. 11].
[2] According to record sheets maintained by Morton D. May, May purchased this painting at the Gerd Rosen auction [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. The Galerie Gerd Rosen auction catalogue lists Prof. Hans [sic] Rabe as the former owner of the painting [copy, SLAM document files].
[3] Last Will and Testament of M. D. May dated June 11, 1982 [copy, May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1983.