Frame
The frame is made of high-quality plastic (PS) that exudes a modern essence with its smooth black finish, 5cm wide and 3cm thick. Its sharp, refined lines make it an ideal choice for contemporary art, especially complementing abstract works, minimalist styles or monochrome paintings . The textured frame is compatible with contemporary art or any artwork that makes a bold, outspoken statement. It is versatile enough to accommodate different sizes and can create complex contrast against bright colors or enhance the depth of dark tones. Designed to blend the past and the present, this frame is suitable for both classical and contemporary art forms.
The king's features are akin to Beckmann's own, although no formal self-portrait may have been intended. The collar with its triangular flaps has the shape the artist usually assigned to clown and harlequin costumes, so we may suspect that the ominous scene is really just part of a play.
Beckmann worked on The King for a long time. He submitted the artwork to the Carnegie International, where it was exhibited in the European section, in San Francisco, in 1934-35, and illustrated in the Carnegie catalogue. The painting did not win a prize. Disappointed, Beckmann changed the first version considerably and finally signed it in Amsterdam in 1937. This history of the painting is important because some commentators have seen allusions to the "despot" of the day and claim that this was the first painting that Beckmann created in exile. But the resemblance to Beckmann himself precludes any reference to the actual tyrant. No-this is the inner drama of a proud, powerful, benign individual.