Paul Beckert

About the Portrait

This pastel portrait on paper, created in 1919 by German portrait painter August Paul Beckert (1856-1922), showcases the artist's masterful technique in portraiture during the final years of his career. The artwork features a young woman with elegantly styled dark hair against a soft green background, executed in Beckert's characteristic realistic style.

The work demonstrates Beckert's expertise in the pastel medium and his ability to capture the subtle beauty and grace of his subjects. The soft, luminous quality of the pastel technique allowed him to achieve subtle gradations in skin tones and create an intimate, contemplative mood. As a portrait painter, Beckert was known for his ability to capture the personality and character of his subjects through careful attention to facial features and expression.

The painting is presented in an ornate gold frame with decorative corner elements that complement the work's refined character. Signed and dated 1919, this piece represents an important example of German portraiture from the post-World War I period, created just three years before the artist's death in 1922.

About the Artist

August Paul Beckert (1856-1922) was a German portrait and church painter born on December 17, 1856, in Lichtenstein, Saxony. He was the son of master tailor Friedrich Ernst Beckert and his wife Christiane Friederike Elisabeth Sophie, née Kluth. From 1869 to 1873, he attended secondary school in Chemnitz, where he received his early education before pursuing his artistic training.

Beckert established himself as a respected portrait painter in Germany during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work demonstrates the technical skill and attention to detail characteristic of German academic painting of the period. His career spanned a significant period in German art history, from the late Imperial period through World War I and into the early Weimar Republic, making his works valuable documents of German society and artistic traditions of the era.

This 1919 pastel work exemplifies his mature style, demonstrating his mastery of the medium and his sensitivity to color and form. The piece was created during a period of significant social and political upheaval in Germany, yet maintains the classical elegance and technical refinement that characterized Beckert's approach throughout his career. He died on September 22, 1922, in Olsberg, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be appreciated for its technical excellence and historical significance.

Technical Details

Artist: August Paul Beckert (1856-1922)
Signed and dated: 1919
Medium: Pastel on paper
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions: 44.5 x 34 cm / 17½ x 13½ in
Frame: 72 x 64 cm / 28¼ x 25¼ in, ornate gold frame with decorative corner elements
Provenance: France

A refined example of German academic portraiture from the post-WWI period by an established portrait painter.