The King

'The King' is an Expressionism oil-on-canvas triptych by German artist Max Beckmann, created between 1932 and 1935. As his first of nine triptychs, it features three panels titled The Castle, The Homecoming, and The Staircase, all sharing similar height and proportion. The central panel, slightly wider at 115 cm, draws focus and evokes intense emotional expression typical of Beckmann's style. While often recognized for its portrait-like depiction of figures and narrative complexity, 'The King' encapsulates themes of authority, alienation, and introspection. This seminal work is housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and remains one of Beckmann’s most renowned triptychs.