Drei Figuren in Interieur (Three Figures in a Building) [p. 27] 

Max Beckmann made this sketch, "Three Figures in a Building," with pencil on paper sometime in his lifetime, which spanned two World Wars. Beckmann's experiences in World War I fundamentally shifted his artistic vision and social understanding. This work, though spare, suggests both an interior space and interiority itself. We see three figures, one set apart on what appears to be a balcony, the others closer, perhaps enclosed by a curtain. The angular lines and stark composition hint at a world disrupted, mirroring Beckmann’s own sense of alienation after the war. He said, “It is…difficult for me to talk about myself or my painting. I have a frightful suspicion that I lack any sense of humour, and that I am not objective.” Beckmann's work often grapples with the fragmented nature of modern identity, reflecting a society struggling to rebuild in the aftermath of devastation. The sketch leaves us with a sense of unresolved tension, prompting questions about isolation and the human condition.