Beckmann Sketchbook 23 c. 1920 - 1941

This is Max Beckmann’s Sketchbook 23, a humble book with who knows how many ideas inside. The cover is muted, a kind of dark brown, almost gray, and has a simple, elegant label, bordered in red, like a little stage set. I’m drawn to the idea of a sketchbook. It's a place where anything can happen, where the artist feels free to experiment and play. The cover is like a gatekeeper, promising secrets and glimpses into Beckmann’s creative process. Is it a place for wild abandon or quiet reflection? I think about the physical act of carrying this book, the weight of it, the feel of the cover under my fingertips. What conversations did this book witness? What thoughts did it absorb? Like a good painting, this sketchbook embraces ambiguity. It’s not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions. Think of it like the poet CAConrad's Somatic Poetry Rituals - a way to get into conversation with your unconscious and let the poems begin.