Gesicht (Face) [p. 79] 

Editor: Here we have Max Beckmann's "Gesicht (Face)" a pencil drawing. The sketchiness and the upward tilt of the face almost feels like the subject is in despair, looking up for some kind of help or guidance. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see Beckmann grappling with the societal trauma of his time. As an expressionist, he isn't simply recording a likeness but trying to capture an interior state. Consider the historical context: this was likely created between or after the World Wars, periods marked by immense loss and societal upheaval. Beckmann's involvement in World War I deeply impacted his artistic vision, causing him to question the existing social and political structures, and of humanity. What might the fragmented lines and distorted features suggest about his perspective on identity? Editor: So, you are suggesting that the incomplete features and the chaotic lines above the face symbolize that trauma, a shattered sense of self or society. Curator: Precisely. Expressionism as a movement often reflects feelings of alienation, anxiety, and a sense of moral crisis. Does understanding that shift how you perceive the upward gaze you mentioned? Is it solely despair, or is there a flicker of resistance, of defiance? Editor: I see it. Knowing more about the time, and his possible trauma, it's like a refusal to be broken completely, maybe? Instead of solely despair, I see resilience peeking through. Curator: I agree. By acknowledging historical wounds and individual resilience, this drawing encourages viewers to contemplate the impact of socio-political forces on individual lives. It creates an opening for broader, much-needed discussion on topics such as historical violence, personal survival, and how they reverberate through human history and impact cultural identity and personal being. Editor: That definitely gave me a new perspective. I saw only sadness before, but it seems there’s so much more woven into those lines. Curator: Absolutely, and by bringing in elements of history and social thought, our understanding grows richer and more meaningful.