MAX PECHSTEIN

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There is all the revolutionary force of Expressionism in the exhibition staged at the Palazzo Zabarella in autumn 2026: the historic Padua palace will open its doors to a major solo exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the German painter Max Pechstein (1881–1955). A member of the group Die Brücke (The Bridge), Pechstein — with his vivid paintings and powerful graphic art — played a pivotal role in shaping the movement’s visual language and became one of its central figures. The exhibition spans more than five decades of Pechstein’s output and offers a rare opportunity to engage with the breadth of his artistic vision. With over 120 works on display — including paintings, drawings, watercolours, photographs, sketches and personal objects — the exhibition tells the story of his life and creative process.

MAX PECHSTEIN

Born in Zwickau in eastern Germany, Max Pechstein moved to Dresden to study and joined Die Brücke, distancing himself from academic tradition. He travelled widely throughout his life, visiting Italy and later Paris — then the undisputed capital of art and modernity — where he encountered the work of major contemporaries such as Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin, who left a lasting impression on him. Drawn by the energy of great cities, Pechstein moved to Berlin in 1908, where he quickly established himself as one of Expressionism’s most sought-after interpreters. He continued to travel, returning to Italy but especially to the idyllic shores of the Baltic and the South Seas — dream destinations that forever marked his spirit and found expression in his extraordinary works, becoming his principal source of inspiration. His numerous journeys were interrupted by the two world wars and, under the Nazi regime, he suffered severe restrictions as an exponent of so-called “degenerate art,” even losing his chair in painting at the Berlin Academy of Arts that he had been awarded in 1923. After the Second World War he was reinstated and committed himself to the country’s cultural reconstruction, regaining due recognition. Pechstein’s artistic vision reveals a sustained pursuit of a harmonious relationship between humanity and unspoilt nature, almost a counterpoint to the social upheavals and humanitarian crises of his time. The impulse to flee the city in order to draw closer to nature runs throughout his life and is reflected in all his work; until his death in 1955 he devoted himself to beloved themes such as nature and the human relationship to it. In light of contemporary challenges like climate change and technological transformation, Pechstein’s vision of harmony and connection with nature resonates with renewed relevance.

"I would like to express my longing for happy experiences. I do not want us to regret forever. Art has been and remains that part of my life that brings me happiness."