Drawing inspiration from northern European painting, the writings of Russian author Nikolai Gogol, and the farm on which he grew up in western Minnesota, Beckman's work examines human relationships-the quiet of solitude, the intimacy of marriage, and the complexity of gender issues. Often working in series, and experimenting with scale, William Beckman's process is at the fore, producing compelling images that engage the viewer directly.
In the first major retrospective of his works on paper, the Columbus Museum explores Beckman's primary subject matter: the individual. Nearly fifty portraits reveal captivating expressions of self-possession, rebellion, and vulnerability. Coinciding with the Museum's sixtieth anniversary, these works from private and public collections reveal the Columbus Museum's commitment to promoting, exhibiting, and collecting American drawings.