The Weaver

1880–1881

Honourable mention at the Paris Salon

For the painting of the Amsterdam old men's home Liebermann became the first German to receive an honourable mention at the Paris Salon, and the Impressionist collector Léon Maître bought several of his works.

1882

Paris Salon of 1882: sales and recognition

“The Shoemaker's Workshop”, finished in Dongen, and “Recreation Time in the Amsterdam Orphanage”, composed in 1881–82 from earlier studies, found a buyer in Jean-Baptiste Faure. The French press hailed Liebermann as an Impressionist, and the collector Ernest Hoschedé wrote to Manet that if Manet had revealed the secrets of the open air, Liebermann had grasped light indoors.

1882–1883

A missed meeting with Van Gogh in Zweeloo

While Liebermann was working on “Bleaching on the Lawn” (1882–83), a return to naturalism, an attempt to meet Vincent van Gogh in Zweeloo came to nothing.

1884

Decides to return to Berlin

Liebermann knew that Berlin would bring fresh conflicts, but he believed the city would sooner or later take its place among the leading art centres: it held an important place on the European art market, and Munich's traditions weighed on him. The family's first home was an apartment at In den Zelten 11, on the northern edge of the Tiergarten.

after 1884

The Bernsteins' house: Manet, Degas and Berlin's circle

At the home of his neighbours Carl and Felicie Bernstein, Liebermann saw paintings by Édouard Manet and Edgar Degas that stayed with him all his life; Max Klinger, Adolph Menzel, Georg Brandes, Wilhelm Bode, Theodor Mommsen and Alfred Lichtwark were among the visitors, and for the first time he felt accepted in Berlin's artistic community. Joining the Society of Friends (Quakers) also eased his acceptance among the upper bourgeoisie.

September 1884

A honeymoon in Holland instead of Italy

The wedding to Martha Marckwald, to whom he had become engaged in May, took place on 14 September, right after the move from Munich to Berlin. Instead of Italy the newlyweds went to Scheveningen, where Israëls joined them; in Laren Liebermann met Anton Mauve, and Delden, Haarlem and Amsterdam followed.