Zoenend paar op een bed 1918 - 1919

Max Beckmann made this print, "Zoenend paar op een bed," with ink on paper. Look at how he's worked the ink, layering thin and thicker marks to build up these figures in a claustrophobic space. The process feels raw and exposed, like a snapshot of a dream. The material aspects of this piece are all about the stark contrast between light and shadow. The ink is laid down in these dense clusters, creating a palpable texture, almost like you could reach out and feel the grit of the ink on the page. I’m drawn to the face of the figure on the left, the way it seems to peer out, vulnerable yet accusing. It's like the whole print hinges on this one, intense gaze. Beckmann’s expressionist style reminds me a little of Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn't afraid to confront difficult emotions with unflinching honesty. Ultimately, this piece is about the push and pull between intimacy and isolation, a reminder that art can hold space for ambiguity and multiple interpretations.