| Art oriented social gatherings in outdoor locales were a central theme for the era of Impressionist artists. Max Liebermann created striking paintings of beer gardens during his time in Munich and revisited this subject during his stays in Holland. However, many of his most lively depictions of these bustling venues were produced after he settled into his summer house at Wannsee in 1910. | |
| Around 1916, Liebermann focused on scenes from the Nikolskoe restaurant, located along the Havel River towards Potsdam. This blockhouse, built in 1819 as a gift from the king to his daughter Charlotte and her husband, the Russian heir apparent Nicholas, has long been a popular destination for visitors from Berlin and Potsdam, even after being reconstructed following a fire. | |
| In his paintings, Liebermann depicts a relaxed gathering on a cheerful summer day, characterized by his signature dappled sunlight illuminating the scene. The legs of the chairs are skillfully integrated into the overall composition, allowing the vibrant atmosphere to take center stage. The only reminder of the ongoing First World War is a uniformed figure among the guests. Liebermann captured the Nikolskoe restaurant multiple times between 1915 and 1916, often in a sketch-like style, and he created a lithograph based on this motif in 1916. His works encapsulate the social life of the era while subtly reflecting the broader context of the time. |