Frauenkopf im Profil (Woman's Profile) [p. 109] 1914 - 1915

Max Beckmann sketched this work, "Frauenkopf im Profil (Woman's Profile)," with pencil on paper. Beckmann lived through both World Wars. His experiences shaped his artistic vision, prompting him to explore themes of alienation and the human condition. This sketch gives us a glimpse into the intimate observation of the artist, while it subtly challenges traditional portraiture. The woman is not idealized; instead, Beckmann captures a raw, unvarnished view, almost as if to mirror the fractured realities of his time. Beckmann, who was famously ambivalent about labels and categories, once said, “I do not want to be ‘didactic’… I want only to show.” This small drawing opens to the question of how we represent identity, and the power dynamics implicit in the act of looking. It encapsulates a moment, an expression, inviting us to contemplate the unseen stories behind the face.