There is all the revolutionary energy of Expressionism in the exhibition taking place at Palazzo Zabarella in autumn 2026: the historic palace in Padua will open its doors to a major monographic exhibition dedicated to the work and life of the German painter Max Pechstein (1881 – 1955).
A member of the group Die Brücke (The Bridge), Pechstein, with his vivid paintings and powerful graphic works, had a fundamental impact on the development of the visual language of the expressionist movement, becoming a central figure. The exhibition covers over five decades of Pechstein's activity and offers a rare opportunity to engage with the breadth of his artistic vision: over 120 works including paintings, drawings, watercolors, photographs, sketches, and personal objects tell the story of his life and creative process.
The artistic vision of Pechstein reveals his ongoing quest for a harmonious relationship between humanity and unspoiled nature, almost as a counterpoint to the social turmoil and humanitarian crises of his time. The impulse to escape the city to approach nature runs throughout our artist's life and is reflected in all of his works; until his death in 1955, he indeed devoted himself to beloved themes such as nature and humanity's relationship with it.
