Max Beckmann

Lithograph, 1919, signed in pencil, titled 'Der Nachhauseweg', and numbered 37/75, from the portfolio Die Holle (Hell), on imitation Japan paper, with full margins, in good condition apart from scattered foxing, primarily in the lower margin, light creasing and a short tear in the upper left sheet edge, framed

The condition is good overall. There is foxing scattered throughout the lower margin. A few light creases are visible along the sheet edges, most notably at upper left where there is also a short (1/4 inch) tear.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This print is a self-portrait of the artist with a war veteran: an amputee with a disfigured nose and missing an eye who wears the brimless cap of German World War I soldier. Beckmann, the maimed soldier, the crippled man, and street walker in the background struggle to maneuver through the haphazard and jagged world depicted here. Beckmann points in the direction of home, but it is not clear if the soldier is fully aware or even looking in the direction he points, even as an enraptured Beckmann stares in horror at the gross disfigurement and grips with a vein-pulsing hand the arm of his almost delirious-looking counterpart.