Frau und Mann an rundem Tisch sitzend c. 1916

Max Beckmann created this ink drawing, "Frau und Mann an rundem Tisch sitzend", at an unknown date. The linear composition captures a man and woman seated at a round table, rendered with sharp, angular strokes. The starkness of the figures may elicit an emotional response of alienation. Beckmann's style here is characterized by a deliberate crudeness that rejects traditional notions of beauty. Notice the woman's face, drawn with disproportionate features, a choice that aligns with Expressionist techniques, aiming to convey inner emotional states rather than surface appearances. The table, suggested by a few curves and lines, becomes a stage for human interaction, or perhaps, a scene of detached observation. This drawing, therefore, serves not merely as a depiction of a couple but as an exploration of form and existential themes, reflecting Beckmann's engagement with the post-war disillusionment and the quest for meaning in a fractured world. It’s an open question, inviting continuous interpretation, shaped by our own readings.