Nächtliche Stadtszene (Nocturnal City Scene) [p. 6] 

Max Beckmann rendered this sketch, "Nocturnal City Scene" with graphite on paper. Beckmann, who lived through both World Wars, captured the pervasive sense of anxiety that defined the interwar period in Germany. Here, the jumbled composition with sharp angles and distorted perspectives evokes the emotional turmoil and uncertainty emblematic of Weimar Germany. There is little respite in the disorienting view, with its claustrophobic architecture. The lack of human presence amplifies the sense of isolation. Beckmann, like many artists of his time, used art to wrestle with the psychological toll of war and societal upheaval. "Nocturnal City Scene" reveals a personal dimension, hinting at the artist's own struggle to find stability and meaning in a world seemingly turned upside down. It reminds us that our environments deeply affect us, shaping our emotional states and perceptions.