derselbe Mann wie auf S. 25 (Man with a Cap ) [p. 27] 1927

Max Beckmann made this sketch, titled derselbe Mann wie auf S. 25, or Man with a Cap, with graphite on paper. It’s a quick sketch, a capturing of the essence of a man. The lines are searching, aren’t they? See how they define the planes of his face, the sharp angles of his suit. It’s like Beckmann is thinking through the drawing, each line a decision, a feeling. The texture of the graphite on paper gives it a raw, immediate quality. The way the cap is shaded in so heavily contrasts with the lightness of the rest, almost like a shadow hanging over him. Look at the eyes, those simple dots that somehow convey so much. It reminds me of Kirchner, that same intensity and interest in character. Beckmann’s work, like all great art, is not about perfect representation but about a feeling, an emotional truth. It's this honesty, this vulnerability, that makes it so compelling.