Max Bezner (1883-1953) Rare Painting By A Renowned Sculptor

Max Bezner (1883–1953) – Oil on cardboard, signed with the monogram “MB” and dated 1915 lower right. Dimensions: 38 x 51 cm (without frame) – 44 x 57 cm (with frame) Rare painting by Max Bezner, a German artist mainly known for his sculptural work. Bezner worked in particular for the court of Berlin and the German aristocracy during the first half of the 20th century. His pictorial work remains extremely underrepresented on the art market, which gives this piece a truly singularity. This landscape with a dirt road, treated in a soft and nuanced palette, testifies to an intimate sensibility close to late naturalism. The well-constructed composition exudes a peaceful, almost silent atmosphere, where one senses the sculptor's attentive eye to form and relief. A bucolic scene showing a winding path lined with trees and bushes, under a milky sky, treated with a muted palette of green-brown tones. The gaze is guided by the path towards a vanishing point in the background, a classic technique in the tradition of Germanic realist landscapes from the turn of the 20th century. The diffused light, without marked shadows, evokes a calm and meditative atmosphere, perhaps a late summer afternoon. Quite close to the realist school, with an impressionist touch in the foliage and the management of masses. Modern frame with a red and silver groove, small lack at the bottom. Work in good general condition. Provenance: Private collection, old label on the back mentioning the artist. Max Bezner was a German sculptor and painter, active in the first half of the 20th century. He worked notably for the court of Berlin and was appreciated in the circles of the Prussian aristocracy. Trained in major German art centers like Berlin and Munich, he is better known for his busts and commemorative sculptures. Sculpted work: His sculptures are part of a neoclassical tradition, with an attention to anatomical detail and a sober rendering of emotion. Rarity of the painting: Few paintings by Max Bezner are recorded today. This makes it a rare collector's item, especially when it is dated (here 1915) and signed.