Zwei Skizzen mit Bezeichnung (Two Sketches with Inscriptions) [p. 5] 

Max Beckmann created this page of sketches with inscriptions using pen and ink. It consists of two distinct freehand sketches, each contained within their own implied boundary. In the upper sketch, we see a flurry of lines forming human-like figures, their forms dissolving into the surrounding space. The lines are kinetic, suggesting movement and instability. Below this, a simpler sketch emerges: a large, rounded form, perhaps a fruit or a head, rests precariously on a flat surface. The stark contrast between the chaotic energy above and the grounded stillness below creates a visual tension. Beckmann was deeply engaged with existential themes, and his art often reflects a world in crisis. We can think of these sketches as reflecting that sensibility through their formal composition, the upper sketch perhaps signifying the turmoil of human existence, while the lower sketch suggests a search for stability or meaning.