hageres Gesicht (Slim Head) [p. 12] 

Max Beckmann sketched this "Slim Head" using ink on paper. Look closely. The subject's face is covered, perhaps veiled. Throughout history, veils appear as potent symbols. Consider ancient Roman brides, their faces shrouded to ward off evil spirits, or nuns, signaling their devotion. Veils hide, protect, and transform identity, acting as a powerful force to engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, prompting questions of what lies beneath, stirring feelings of curiosity and mystery. Such visual symbols echo through time. Though Beckmann may not have consciously referenced these traditions, they resonate in our collective memory. These motifs resurface and evolve in different historical contexts, carrying with them an emotional and psychological weight.