Liebermann-Villa: A Castle by the Lake
Renowned German painter Max Liebermann (1847-1935) always dreamed about having a house in the countryside, where he could seek refuge from the bustling city life in Berlin and find inspiration and enough time for his artistic endeavors.
When he found a piece of land for sale located directly at Berlin’s Wannsee, Liebermann didn’t hesitate. He signed the contract in 1909 and commissioned architect Paul Otto Baumgarten to design the house, but was actively involved in the planning as well. Liebermann’s good friend Alfred Lichtwark helped him to realize his vision of various garden spaces.
In July 1910, Liebermann spent the first of many summers at the villa together with his wife Martha and daughter Käthe; he produced more than 200 paintings and drawings while there, mainly working in the garden.
The Jewish painter died in 1935 at the age of 87, concerned and embittered about the political situation in Germany under the control of Nazis. His wife Martha was forced to sell the villa in 1940. Three years later, at the age of 83, she received a notification that she was to be deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp – she committed suicide just hours before the police arrived at her family home.
The Liebermann-Villa, the painter’s beloved summer residence, was first converted into a hospital after World War II, before it was returned to Liebermann’s daughter Käthe. In 1958, it was sold to the State of Berlin. For many years, it was used by a diving club; however, the Max Liebermann Society aimed to turn both house and garden into a museum.
This ambitious project finally came into realization in 2002, when the villa was officially handed over to the Max Liebermann Society, which then began to restore the house and garden to former glory. Since 2006, the Liebermann-Villa is open to the public as a museum, artist’s house and garden, welcoming around 80,000 visitors each year.
The part of the property facing the street resembles a farmer’s garden, planted with vegetables, shrubs and bushes. On the other side of the house, there is the baroque garden, with lovely manicured flowerbeds, a tea pavilion, sundial and fountain.
The former Gardener’s Cottage has been transformed into a small museum shop, where visitors can buy anything from plant seeds and honey directly from the Liebermann garden to books on the painter and art.
The villa itself houses a collection that includes 154 of Liebermann’s works, most of which have been donated to the museum. On the second floor, there is space for additional exhibitions. Currently, one can see “Max Liebermann and Paul Klee – Pictures of Gardens”, a wonderful exhibition that puts Liebermann’s paintings of his garden side by side with Klee’s abstract works; both artists were very fond of nature, albeit using very different styles to depict it.
A small café on the ground floor offers coffee and homemade cake; the exceptionally friendly staff of Café Max knows how to put a smile on their customers’ face. Although there is indoor seating available, sitting outside on the terrace is a must, especially during warmer days: the view of both garden and lake is enchanting.
It is not hard to understand why the villa, a silent witness to some of the happiest moments of the Liebermann family, was so appealing to the painter and provided him with peace of mind, simply by taking a stroll through the lush greenery or sitting on the terrace – after a visit to the Liebermann-Villa, surely everyone starts dreaming about owning a house by the lake.