Straßenszene c. 1907

Max Liebermann’s charcoal drawing shows a busy street scene. It must have been quite something, watching Liebermann at work. The charcoal lines capture a moment in time, a fleeting glimpse of urban life. I can imagine him, quickly sketching figures and forms, trying to capture the energy of the crowd. There's a real sense of immediacy, as if the artist were right there in the thick of things. The marks are expressive, even frantic in places, suggesting the hustle and bustle of the street. It reminds me a bit of Daumier. The figures are rendered with a few simple strokes, but they still manage to convey a sense of character and movement. Maybe he was interested in capturing the fleeting gestures and expressions of people as they passed by. Each stroke feels deliberate, adding to the overall sense of dynamism. He's part of a conversation across time, across generations. What a thought!