Max Liebermann, Famous German Jewish Artist, to Be Honored on Birthday

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Prussian State Academy of Arts is arranging an exhibition of the works of its President, Prof. Max Liebermann, on the occasion of his eightieth birthday, which occurs on July 9th.

Preparations are already being made for the exhibition. Pictures are being brought together from various collections with the assistance of Liebermann’s biographer, Erich Hancke, and other authorities on Liebermann’s works.

It is expected that the exhibition will be opened in June.

Prof. Max Liebermann was born in Berlin on July 9th, 1847 of a wealthy family. Prof. Felix Liebermann, the famous German historian and authority on early English Constitutional History, and Councillor Georg Liebermann who did a great deal to develop Berlin as a world capital and was a famous art collector were his brothers. Felix died in 1925 at the age of 75 and George in 1926 at the age of 82.

Liebermann who was a close friend of the great Jewish painter, Josef Israels, was the founder of the German Impressionist school. He found great difficulty in obtaining recognition in Germany, largely because he is a Jew. The ex-Kaiser was his determined opponent, and when he was already world-famous consistently vetoed his election to the Presidency of the Berlin Academy. It was not until after the Revolution that he was made President of the Academy and he has been regularly re-elected each year since, notwithstanding the Constitution which allows only two terms of office. The Government has made a special exception in his case.

Not until his fame was echoed back from France, Belgium and Holland did Germany realize that he was the outstanding figure in contemporary German art. Liebermann is represented in most German and Continental galleries and his etchings are found in the leading print cabinets of Europe.