Max Ackermann

Born in Berlin in 1887, Max Ackermann drew extensively on the colour and compositional theory developed by his teacher Adolf Hölzel for the foundations of his work. Likewise, the idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk influenced Ackermann’s association of painting, music, dance and architecture. Ackermann’s affinity to music in particular is evident in his triptych Falter (Moths), which he made in 1955. The work derives form the predominantly abstract compositions in Ackermann's late period, for which he became famous despite his familiarity with every stylistic direction within Classic Modernism. Thus, in addition to capturing the movement of moths in an abstract way, an analogy to music also suggests itself, inasmuch as the three parts of the work resemble - both in the tonal palette and concentration of the painterly composition - an increase in amplitude and intensity.