In The Drawing Room [The Art Critics] c. late 1920s

George Grosz made this drawing, “In The Drawing Room (The Art Critics),” with pen and ink. Notice how the figures are delineated with decisive lines, capturing every grotesque detail with stark clarity. The process feels immediate, like a raw nerve exposed. The scratchy lines and exaggerated features create a sense of unease. This is especially apparent in the woman to the right, whose sharp nose and pointed chin seem to puncture the space around her. Her wide eyes and thin smile are more unsettling than inviting. It's like Grosz is saying something about the art world and the people who inhabit it. Are they vultures picking apart creativity, or something else entirely? Grosz's work has a kinship with Otto Dix, another German artist who didn’t shy away from showing the ugliness of the world. Art isn't always about beauty, sometimes it's about holding up a mirror to society, even when the reflection isn't pretty.