Frau H.M. 1923

Editor: This is Max Beckmann’s "Frau H.M." at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a striking portrait rendered in black and white. What cultural narratives do you think Beckmann is conveying through the starkness of the woodcut? Curator: Notice how the sharp lines create a sense of immediacy, almost a raw emotionality. The simplification of form, particularly in the eyes, amplifies their gaze. Does it feel confrontational, or perhaps vulnerable? The absence of color shifts our focus to line and form, elements that carry significant symbolic weight. Editor: I think both. The gaze is intense, but the lack of detail also feels like a kind of stripping away. Curator: Precisely. Beckmann, like many artists of his time, was grappling with the psychological impact of war and social upheaval. This portrait reflects a search for authenticity, a desire to cut through surface appearances and reveal something more profound about the human condition. Editor: That's a great point. I'll definitely think about that context next time I encounter a woodcut like this.