Beckmann Sketchbook 20 1917 - 1923

This is Max Beckmann's Sketchbook 20, an intimate object, made with paper, thread, and glue. Beckmann filled sketchbooks like this one with ideas, doodles and thoughts that would later materialize in his paintings. The worn cover has a cloudy blue surface, like a faded memory, with its creamy label, awaiting an inscription. Think about the process of making art – how do we decide what to keep private, what to show, and what to throw away? I find the texture of the paper so evocative, it looks like it has absorbed years of use, maybe even a tear or two. The overall effect is one of intimacy and immediacy, offering a peek into the artist's creative world. Beckmann's sketchbooks remind us that artmaking is an ongoing conversation, a journey of experimentation and discovery. Like Philip Guston after him, Beckmann wasn't afraid to embrace ambiguity, leaving us with more questions than answers, but also a deep sense of connection.