"Polyphemus' Catch." A memorable painting by Max Pitschmann in which the artist gave free rein to his imagination.

Max Pietschmann (1862-1952) was a German Symbolist painter, one of the prominent representatives of the Dresden Secession, an artistic association whose members included such famous brush masters as Otto Dix and Oskar Kokoschka. He painted in the style of the famous painter Arnold Böcklin, that is, focused not on depicting reality, and gave free rein to his imagination. In Pietschmann's opinion, "a painting should not resemble a photograph in any way: the artist's task is to depict the nonexistent and make the viewer, if not believe in what is happening, at least smile".

Sleeping satyr

Therefore, humor and ridicule in his paintings a lot, although the plots of some paintings, including the famous "Catch Polyphemus" creepy. However, this is what makes them interesting: Pietschmann's paintings favorably differ from the artwork of salon academicians by their unconventionality, one can feel that they are not only a way of making money, but also a desire to say something important, albeit in such a somewhat frivolous form. The main thing is not to take what is happening at face value, and try to understand the hidden meanings and symbols, of which there are many in the artist's paintings.

Preparing for the holiday

Pietschmann boasts a thorough art education: he spent six years at the Dresden Academy of Art, where he spent a great deal of time working outdoors in plein air. This was later reflected in his work: most of his paintings take place outdoors, and clouds, water and nature are painted with an amazing accuracy and realism that would honor any other landscape painter.

A conversation in an autumn forest

Then there was a two-year trip to Italy, where Pietschmann studied the paintings of the old masters and "infected" with a love for ancient Greek and Roman myths. But even this was not enough for Pietschmann, and he entered the private Julian Academy in Paris, where he spent two years painting nudes.

Adam and Eve

The fruits of his studies and creative endeavors can be clearly seen in one of the most famous paintings, Polyphemus' Catch. It depicts the giant Cyclops Polyphemus, son of the god of the seas Poseidon and the nymph Taos, who in his behavior more resembled a wild beast than a rational being. He grazed herds of goats, but in addition to their meat and milk, he did not refuse exotic fishing, though its prey was not fish, but sea maidens, which also went for dinner.

Polyphemus' catch

As you can see in the picture, the catch was notable: one red-haired beauty Polyphemus lifted high above his head and admires her, as a fisherman considers a particularly large fish. She was already drowsy with terror, and it would be better for her not to come to her senses at all, as there was no one to help her. Her two dark-haired friends are trying to get out of the nets. One of them almost succeeds, but the other one is tangled up more thoroughly and unsuccessfully wants to break the strong ties.

Polyphemus' catch. Fragment

Not far away on the rocks sit the other sea maidens. They know that three of their friends will be enough for Polyphemus' lunch, so they have no need to fear him until tomorrow morning. Perhaps they regard his fishing as an inevitable tribute to the sea lord, with which they can only accept, and are happy that they have already lived this day in peace.

The giant figure of Polyphemus resembles a rock and Pietschmann tries to emphasize this. Polyphemus is inevitability itself, a natural fate against which the sea maidens are powerless.

Bacchanalia

The painting was thought to be lost, only reproductions of it survived. But in 2020 it was unexpectedly put up for auction. As it turned out, the owner of the house, located in Dresden, was sorting out in his old attic and accidentally found the canvas, rolled up and covered with years of dust. When he opened it, he thanked fate, and went with him to art historians to confirm the authenticity of the picture. Well, and then drove for a decent amount of money to a private collector at auction.

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