Zwei bezeichnete Skizzen (Two Sketches with Inscriptions) [p. 9] 

Curator: This page, titled Zwei bezeichnete Skizzen, or "Two Sketches with Inscriptions," comes to us from the hand of Max Beckmann. The medium looks to be a combination of pencil and ink on paper. Editor: The immediate impression I get is one of fleeting, anxious energy. It's less about polished depiction, and more about the urgent capture of something seen or felt. What do you see materially in this work? Curator: I notice the page itself: its slightly yellowed tone suggests age and use. The graphite, varied in pressure, tells us about the artist's hand—his changing focus. There's something beautiful in that direct translation of thought to paper. Considering Beckmann’s engagement with German Expressionism, how does that influence your interpretation? Editor: Given that backdrop, these aren't simply casual observations. The raw, fragmented quality speaks to the disquiet and social anxieties prevalent in Germany at the time. Even these fragmented figures feel charged with meaning, reflecting the human condition amidst chaos and turmoil. How do the inscriptions interact with the visual elements in this work? Curator: They seem to serve as annotations, or perhaps attempts at identifying what's being represented. That they're so integrated suggests that writing was integral to Beckmann’s process. Editor: Exactly, and if we see the labor of sketching itself, then the writing becomes part of the artistic process rather than external labels. Are we meant to see this page in relation to other sketches? How might that effect our reading? Curator: These sketches exist as part of a larger series; this hints at a broader creative output with possible links in theme and style across these drawings. We see an active exploration of form and figure—all revealing more of his world, which itself was in constant flux. Editor: So, instead of neat conclusions, it's about engaging with these gestures and inscriptions. Thank you! Curator: Indeed—it's about embracing the creative process itself.