Max Ackermann (1887–1975) - Akzentreihe

Max Ackermann (1887–1975)
“Akzentreihe”, 1973

Color serigraphy on rag paper
Sheet size approx. 69.6 × 49.5 cm, image size approx. 50 × 32.5 cm
Catalogue raisonné Bayer/Enßlin-List, S 7310 ff.
Edition: 100 copies
Printed by Hans-Peter Haas, Korntal

The 1973 work “Akzentreihe” exemplifies Max Ackermann’s late creative period. In this piece his long engagement with abstraction crystallizes into a clearly structured yet dynamically effective composition.

Ackermann is one of the important pioneers of German abstract art. Rather than depicting the visible world, he developed an independent pictorial language from color, line, plane, and geometric form. What matters is not the individual motif but the relationship of the elements to one another. The title “Akzentreihe” already points to this compositional idea: colored and geometric shapes appear as individual impulses that, within the field, form a rhythmic totality.

The composition lives from a balanced interplay of order and movement. Clear geometric shapes meet intense color fields, creating tension and dynamism. The individual elements are not isolated side by side but seem to correspond with one another, influence each other, and continually establish new focal points within the image plane.

The free spaces between the shapes also play a crucial role. They create pauses and, at the same time, amplify the effect of the colored accents. Thus, despite the reduced formal language, a living pictorial space arises in which tension, rhythm, and balance combine.

The color serigraphy printing underscores Ackermann’s consistent handling of color. The screen printing process allows a particularly clear and intensive reproduction of the individual color fields. Color becomes not merely a supplement to the geometric forms but also takes on a sustaining function within the composition.

The work was created only two years before Ackermann’s death, placing it in a phase in which he increasingly condensed his abstract language and focused on essential pictorial elements. It especially reflects his lifelong engagement with rhythm and musical structures. Shapes and colors become visual accents that, much like tones within a musical composition, unite to form a distinct overall harmony.

“Akzentreihe” is documented in various auction and art-market contexts. The edition comprises 100 copies; in addition, a proof artist’s copy labeled “E.A.” is also documented.

With its precise formal language, intense color effect, and pronounced rhythmic structure, “Akzentreihe” powerfully conveys the characteristic features of Ackermann’s later abstract art.

Shipping is carried out well-packaged, insured, and with a tracking number via DHL.