mehrfigurige Skizze mit kriechenden Figuren (Figure Sketch) [p. 17] 

Editor: We’re looking at Max Beckmann’s "mehrfigurige Skizze mit kriechenden Figuren," or "Figure Sketch." It seems to be from one of his sketchbooks. Looking at all the figures crammed onto the page and drawn with these frenetic lines, I find a real sense of urgency here. What stands out to you? Curator: Urgency, absolutely. For me, it feels like a glimpse into a half-remembered dream – or maybe a nightmare. Beckmann often wrestled with the anxieties of his time. Do you notice how the figures are rendered? All those sharp angles and distorted forms? Editor: They definitely don't look comfortable! Is this characteristic of Expressionism? Curator: Spot on! Expressionism aims to depict subjective emotions and responses to the world, and sometimes those emotions are turbulent. This drawing looks like a mass of bodies. Almost a premonition of conflict or societal collapse, wouldn’t you say? I mean, are they creeping away from or towards something? And what about the figure with what looks like eggs on their back?! It all speaks to an inner turmoil, reflected in the world outside. Does it unsettle you? Editor: A little, yes. But I also find it incredibly compelling. The chaos makes you want to untangle it, to find some meaning in the mess. Curator: Exactly! Beckmann isn't handing us any easy answers. Art should challenge us to look closer, to feel more deeply. And, maybe, to accept the beautiful, messy contradictions of being human. I guess this is why I love Beckmann, because like this drawing, you aren’t entirely sure if you love it, are perplexed by it, or dislike it intensely. Editor: I think I appreciate Expressionism much more now. It is a complex blend. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! The layers are why it lingers, why it stays with us long after we’ve walked away.