Schafender Tiger (Sleeping Tiger) [p. 39] 

Max Beckmann created this pencil sketch, "Sleeping Tiger," as part of a sketchbook. The tiger, a symbol of power, is rendered here in repose, suggesting themes of latent potential and the contrast between inner strength and outward passivity. Germany, between the wars, was a society in turmoil, with powerful forces lying just beneath the surface. How might we understand this image of a sleeping tiger in relation to that time and place? Beckmann was part of the New Objectivity movement that reflected the disillusionment of artists after World War I. His art was later condemned by the Nazis, who shut down the institutions that supported his work, branding it as "degenerate." To fully appreciate the work of an artist like Beckmann, we can consult historical archives, letters, and period publications, so that we can understand art's function as a response to its socio-political context.