begonnene Skizze eines Mannes mit Bart (Sketch of a Man with a Beard) [p. 18] 

Max Beckmann made this begonnene Skizze eines Mannes mit Bart, or Sketch of a Man with a Beard, using pen on paper. The immediacy of this sketch reflects the directness that pen and paper afford. It is a common material and a process employed for artmaking, available to all irrespective of socioeconomic background. The choice of paper allows for a raw, unfiltered expression, diverging from the grand scale of oil paintings often associated with high art. The hasty lines and unfinished quality of the sketch convey a sense of spontaneity, as Beckmann engaged with capturing fleeting moments or thoughts. By choosing these modest materials, Beckmann bypasses traditional hierarchies of artistic expression, enabling a more intimate connection between artist and subject, inviting viewers to contemplate the narratives embedded within the work. This emphasizes that art's value does not solely rely on the complexity of materials or techniques, but rather on the creative vision of the artist.