"I will root up from my path whatever obstructs my progress toward becoming the master." ("Ich will alles um mich her ausrotten, was mich einschränkt, das ich nicht Herr bin.") 1922

George Grosz made this work, "I will root up from my path whatever obstructs my progress toward becoming the master," with ink on paper. What hits me is the frankness of the mark-making. No fuss, just bold lines carving out this character and his world. It's like he's saying, "Here it is, deal with it." Look at how the cross-hatching creates depth, especially around the figure's face. It's a dense map of his inner turmoil, maybe? Then, that hand, nonchalantly holding what I think is a cigar. The confidence, or maybe overconfidence, is palpable. The starkness of the black ink against the white paper adds to the intensity, a no-nonsense kind of statement. Grosz reminds me of Philip Guston, in a way. Both unafraid to use their art to confront uncomfortable truths, to hold a mirror up to society, even if it's not a pretty reflection. It's this kind of artistic courage that keeps the conversation going, pushing us to see beyond the surface.