Professor Max Liebermann, the great Jewish painter, who has been President of the Prussian Academy of Arts since the proclamation of the German Republic, has resigned his position, ostensibly on account of his age the will be 85 on July 20th.). but it is understood that the real reason is the growth of Hitlerist influence and the possibility of a Hitlerist Government, which would not tolerate a Jew holding such a high position.
Only a little while ago Professor Liebermann was made the target of a Hitlerist attack when after the publication of the appeal issued to the German people by some of the most distinguished artists and writers in the country, including Professor Liebermann, calling on the German people to vote for President Hindenburg in the presidential elections, the Hitlerist “Angriff” published an allegation that he had told a French journalist that if Hitler was returned to power, the French army must march into the country to put down his Government, and called him a traitor, demanding his arrest and trial.
Professor Liebermann immediately issued a denial. It is true, he said, that I received a French journalist and showed him my pictures, but I did not talk politics with him, let alone say anything of the kind attributed to me in the report.
Under the monarchy Professor Liebermann, as the greatest living artist in Germany, was repeatedly elected President of the Academy, but the Kaiser objected to a Jew holding the office and vetoed the election. When the Republic was proclaimed, however, he was elected as President of the Academy, and al though the term of office under the Constitution is only two years, this rule was suspended in his case, and he has been regularly re-elected to the presidency since then, and thus has held the office for about 14 years. It was understood that his election was tantamount to the presidency for life.
An exhibition of Professor Liebermann’s paintings was opened only about a fortnight ago in the galleries of the Berlin Art Association, in preparation for the celebrations for his coming 85th. birthday.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
