weibliche Bildnisstudie (Female Portrait) [p. 33] 

Curator: This is Max Beckmann’s pencil sketch titled “Weibliche Bildnisstudie (Female Portrait).” Editor: It's simple, yet the line work is raw. I’m immediately struck by a feeling of melancholy, and an air of vulnerability despite her firm gaze. Curator: I'm drawn to how quickly we can access Beckmann’s creative process through this intimate medium. Pencil on paper allowed for direct expression, virtually unmediated by the constraints of more formal artistic production. Editor: Right, and there is also a potential tension when thinking about representation and artistic process in a moment when Expressionism gave way to a more harsh Neue Sachlichkeit—or “New Objectivity”—in Weimar Germany. How might gender and class intersect to inform the sitter’s positioning here, both literally and figuratively? Curator: I appreciate the emphasis on those contexts. Consider the materiality further. The softness of the pencil belies the potential socio-political undercurrents you bring up. Pencil sketch as an inexpensive mode—a way to render images quickly and perhaps illustrate ordinary people when commissioning oil painting might not be an option for many. Editor: It does invite questions. There's a certain androgyny here that might speak to evolving gender dynamics during that time period. Curator: Indeed, perhaps the sketch format allowed for a fluid exploration of identity—Beckmann testing boundaries that were not necessarily cemented in place yet in Germany in the early 20th Century. Editor: A compelling point. This opens the artwork to interpretations beyond a traditional portrait. It makes us think about what images do and who gets represented and how, which continues to resonate today. Curator: Absolutely. It also prompts me to investigate further the social networks that allowed for works like this to emerge in the first place. Editor: For me, it’s about uncovering and considering those multiple layers in tension to open dialogue and debate. Curator: A quick drawing opens a Pandora’s Box of fascinating inquiries!