The Skaters

Lesson Objective

Students will look closely at Max Beckmann’s The Skaters and learn more about the themes and artistic choices in his art. With the help of the background information and group discussion, students will experiment with the elements of art, specifically lines, shapes, and color to create their own Beckmann-inspired artwork.

Introduction

At first glance this painting seems whimsical and lighthearted. Legs flying in the air, colorful costumes, and the clear, crisp landscape set up a cheery ice skating scene.

But things are seldom as simple as they seem. Look a little closer at the painting. The man on the left has a sinister look on his face. The figures wobble on their skates. The door on the left seems out of place.

The artist of this painting, Max Beckmann, was sending a larger message through his work. What could that be?

Warm-Up Questions

Take a moment to look at the painting. Turn and talk with your peers. Discuss the painting using these prompts below:

• What do you see?
• What do you think is going on?
• How does this painting make you feel? What do you see that makes you say that?
• What do you wonder?
• What were some common details that you as a class noticed? Anything that stuck out to you?

Background

The Skaters: Life as an Uncertain Balancing Act

• Turn and Talk: What words would you use to describe a skilled ice skater? (e.g., graceful, elegant, free)

The skaters in this painting are far from elegant—they struggle just to keep balanced. Two men unsteadily lift a woman into the air. Her legs fly into the air as she leans on the men for support. The men totter on their skates under her weight, trying to stay upright. A waiter balances trays full of champagne glasses in the middle of the commotion.

The artist emphasizes this unbalanced feeling with diagonal lines. Legs and arms, the trays of champagne glasses, and the skate blades all form slanted lines that make us feel that the group could topple at any moment. The sloping door on the left and the wobbly flagpole on the right echo this instability.

• Turn and Talk: Would you say that things in our world are stable or unstable? Why? Why do you suppose the artist would create such an unsteady scene?

Beckmann often included acrobats and other circus performers in his works of art to make a statement about human’s unstable existence. In this work of art, the skaters’ unsteady positions send the same message: Life is uncertain.

Max Beckmann: Experiences with the Brutality of War

As a German artist in the early 20th century, Beckmann’s experiences with two world wars influenced his paintings. During World War I, Beckmann witnessed the brutality of war firsthand in his post as a medical orderly. Many of his artworks following the war contained scenes that were dark, violent, and cynical.

By the time Beckmann painted The Skaters, his subjects had lightened a bit. They still contained elements of pessimism and mystery. Even though the subject matter of ice skaters is lighthearted, the dark lines and unusual configuration of the people create a puzzling scene.

Beckmann enjoyed a prosperous career during the 1920s and early 1930s. His success provided him with the means to travel frequently. For the 1931–32 New Year’s holiday, he vacationed in Garmisch, a popular German resort known for its wintertime activities. Ice skating was one of many activities he witnessed during the holiday and was the inspiration for this painting.

Beckmann’s life changed dramatically during World War II. Hitler condemned Beckmann and other German modern artists for creating art that was not realistic and penalized artists who didn’t work in the approved Nazi style. A short time later, Beckmann left Berlin and moved to Amsterdam. He never returned to Germany again.

Repeated Themes in Beckmann’s Art

Theme 1: Setting the Scene: Stage, Circus, or Carnival

Beckmann’s works are frequently scenes of the stage, the circus, and the carnival. Beckmann saw these scenes as metaphors for life. At the circus, performers act foolishly for the enjoyment of others.

• Turn and Talk: Beckmann felt that in life we are forced to perform for one another as well. How is this attitude reflected in The Skaters?

Theme 2: Crowded Scenes

Beginning in the 1920s, Beckmann created scenes that crowded people into tight spaces. In The Skaters, Beckmann contained the figures with a door on the left and the flagpole on the right.

• Turn and Talk: What was he trying to tell us by crowding the figures with the door and flagpole? How does it feel to be in a tight space?

Beckmann was sending us a message about feeling suffocated and lacking freedom in life.

Theme 3: Relationship Between Men and Women

Another major theme found in Beckmann’s works is the relationship between men and women. He found this relationship to have areas of conflict, yet he realized he couldn’t live without it.

• Turn and Talk: How do the men and the woman in The Skaters depend upon each other? How do they put each other at risk?

Art Activity

Materials

• Scissors
• Paper
• Printed image of the painting

Guided Practice

How do diagonal lines affect our feelings about Max Beckmann’s The Skaters? Let’s try straightening the scene!

Prep before the lesson: Print the image on paper.

Instructions

1. 1. Cut out the three skaters, the side of the hut, and the light pole.
2. 2. Rearrange the figures so that the two men are standing straight and the hut and pole are vertical. Don’t glue!
3. 3. Compare your version with the original. How has the mood changed? Which do you prefer and why?
4. 4. Glue the figures the way you want to arrange them.
5. 5. Draw other things around the skaters. If you have collage materials, you could add this element to the artwork. Will your scene be topsy turvy or orderly? What color scheme do you want?

Reflection

How does your arrangement compare to The Skaters? What did you add to the scene? Why? What colors were you drawn to? Why? Share your thoughts with each other as a whole group, in small groups, or in pairs.

Additional Learning Activities

Postcard | Writing and Art

Max Beckmann painted The Skaters shortly after a holiday at a winter resort, which probably inspired this scene. From what you see in this picture, write a five-sentence postcard to a friend about something interesting or fun you did this last year. Remember to use adjectives (descriptive words) to inform your reader about the place and activity. Why was it fun or interesting? How did you feel?

Then draw a picture on the other side of the postcard to illustrate what you wrote. Think about the impact of colors, shapes, and lines.

What’s the Weather? | Close Looking and Art

Examine the painting for clues about weather conditions in this scene. How many different details can you find that give you that information? Make a list of those details and then write a weather forecast for that day, including temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, wind levels, and advice about other suitable activities.

Then imagine a different set of weather conditions on another day. Draw a picture of the same place on the day you imagined. Which details of the picture would change? Which would remain the same?

Winter Research | Close :ooking and Writing

Artists can draw out different moods and feelings even when they depict the same subject. Search Mia’s website for a few other artworks that show winter. Compare the examples of winter scenes and add your own text to explain what mood the artist has created. What do you see in each picture that helps establish the mood? Think about how Beckmann played with diagonal lines and the space around figures to create the mood of The Skaters. Which picture best expresses your favorite aspect of winter? Explain what you see in the picture that reminds you of your own experiences.

Minnesota State Standards

Social Studies

4.5.25.2 Identify examples of individuals or groups who have had an impact on world history. Explain how the actions of these individuals and groups have helped shape the world around them and the world today.

5.5.24.1 Analyze anti-colonial and anti-racist resistance movements of culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse people throughout the world.

7.4.18.3 Analyze connections between World War II, Fascism, and the Holocaust. Identify the relationship between individuals’ experiences of these events and broader historical contexts.

8.4.19.1 Assess the influence of television, the internet, and other media on cultural identity, gender identity, and social and political movements.

Visual Arts

5.0.4.7.1–5.9.4.7.1 Respond: Analyze and construct interpretations of artistic work.

5.0.5.9.1–5.5.5.9.1 Connect: Integrate knowledge and personal experiences while responding to, creating, and presenting artistic work.