Figur im Harlekinskostüm (Figure in Harlequin's Costume) [p. 20] 

Max Beckmann created this sketch, *Figure in Harlequin's Costume*, using graphite. The hurried, interwoven lines coalesce to form a figure, which the title tells us is a Harlequin. Observe how Beckmann uses line to suggest form and movement rather than to define precise boundaries. The figure is built up through a dense network of strokes, creating a sense of depth. This method moves away from traditional representational art. It is more aligned with the formal innovations of modernism. The sketch destabilizes established categories by inviting the viewer to actively participate in constructing the image. There is a tension between representation and abstraction, challenging fixed meanings. This aligns with poststructuralist thought, which emphasizes the instability of meaning and the role of the interpreter. The Harlequin figure seems to embody this instability. This is a figure known for its ambiguity and liminality. The frenetic lines create a sense of dynamism, suggesting the transient nature of meaning itself. The sketch invites us to see art not as a fixed object but as a process of ongoing interpretation.