Avi Ohry
Tel Aviv, Israel

Max Liebermann was one of Germany’s most influential painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, recognized primarily for his Impressionist style and leadership in German modernism. Durin his long career, Liebermann painted several medical persons who achieved considerable recognition during his time and are still regarded as pioneers in their discipline.¹

Notable among these are:

1. One of Liebermann’s most significant medically-themed works was his portrait of Rudolf Virchow, the famous German physician and pathologist, completed in 1893. This portrait is particularly noteworthy as Virchow was not only a medical pioneer but also a prominent public figure in Berlin, where Liebermann spent most of his career.¹
2. His portrait of Paul Ehrlich (1854–1915), who worked in the fields of hematology, immunology, and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Ehrlich developed a technique for staining bacteria and blood cells tissues. In his laboratory, he discovered the first efficient chemotherapy for syphilis: arsphenamine (Salvarsan), and anti-serum against diphtheria. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to immunology, and founded a research institute which became the Paul Ehrlich Institute.¹
3. His portrait of Ferdinand Sauerbruch, one of twentieth century’s most outstanding surgeons and chair of surgery at Berlin’s hospital Charité from 1927 to 1949. Sauerbruch “openly supported National Socialism in his public statements in his position as head of the medical section of the Reich Research Council. He was appointed state councilor and received the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross by the National Socialists. But Sauerbruch also supported victims of Nazi persecution, attempted to use his influence to put a stop to the ‘Euthanasia Program T4,’ and in private expressed his criticism of National Socialists.”²

Liebermann’s connection to medicine was also personal—his brother was a prominent physician in Berlin, which gave him insight into the medical community of the time. This connection likely influenced his approach to depicting medical professionals and scientists in his work. Like the physicians of his time, Liebermann believed in the importance of direct observation and accurate representation. This approach was particularly evident in his portraiture work, where he strived to capture not just the physical appearance but also the intellectual character of his subjects. His realistic style and interest in social themes aligned well with the empirical approach of medical science. Another of Liebermann’s most significant medically-themed works was his painting of the Amsterdam Jewish Hospital (Jüdisches Krankenhaus), completed during his early period in the Netherlands. This work captured both the institutional aspects of medical care and the human element of patient treatment, reflecting his interest in social realism.

References

1. Ohry, Avi, “On two painters and eleven doctors,” Medicina Internacia Revuo N-ro 1 (110) Junio, 2018, pp. 47-54.
2. Dewey, Marc, et al. “Ernst Ferdinand Sauerbruch and his ambiguous role in the period of National Socialism.” Ann Surg Aug 2006;244(2):315-21. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000218191.68016.cf.