Entwurf zu "Vogelspiel" (Sketch for "Birdplay") [p. 31] 1944 - 1949

Max Beckmann made this sketch for "Birdplay" with ink on paper, and what grabs me is the sheer energy of the line. It's like he's trying to capture a fleeting thought or a burst of movement. Look how the blue lines crisscross and overlap, creating a dense, almost chaotic network. There's a real sense of urgency here, as if Beckmann is wrestling with the image, trying to pin it down before it escapes. The lines themselves are thin and wiry, but they carry so much force. It's like watching a dance unfold on paper, with each line a step or a gesture. This sketch reminds me a bit of Picasso's quicksilver line drawings, but with a darker, more brooding edge. Both artists share a love of experimentation and a willingness to push the boundaries of representation. Ultimately, Beckmann's sketch invites us to embrace the messy, unpredictable nature of artmaking, and to find beauty in the unfinished and the unresolved.