Tänzer (Dancer) [p. 3] 1927

Here we have Max Beckmann’s quick sketch, made with pencil on paper, called ‘Dancer.’ There's something so immediate about a drawing like this, right? You can almost feel Beckmann's hand moving across the page, trying to capture the energy of the dancer. It’s like he’s thinking through the lines, not trying to get it perfect, but trying to figure out what it feels like to be in that moment. Look at the marks around the dancer's tutu, those lines aren't precious, they're all about the movement. It's like he’s not just drawing what he sees, but also what he feels, which brings to mind other artists like Kathe Kollwitz or even some of the early German Expressionists. They were all trying to get at something deeper than just appearances. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art is a conversation, and it's okay if we don't always have all the answers.