älterer Mann (Elderly Face) [p. 91] 1927

This drawing of an elderly face was made by Max Beckmann using graphite on paper. You can really see the process in this drawing, the way the lines are searching, almost like feeling around for the form. There’s a lightness to it, even though the subject has a certain gravity. Beckmann’s touch is very present, you can see the texture of the paper coming through. The lines are quick, almost like he’s trying to capture a fleeting thought, or a memory. Look at the way he’s rendered the hair, it’s just a scribble, but it conveys so much. It’s not about perfection, it’s about capturing something essential. The way he uses these simple lines to create depth, it's as if he's building up layers of thought. It reminds me a little of some of Picasso's ink drawings, particularly in its directness and its willingness to leave the working visible. Both artists share an ability to create compelling images with a kind of rough immediacy. It embraces ambiguity, and lets the viewer participate in the act of seeing.