Man en vrouw leunen uit het raam en kijken uit over straat 1918 - 1919

This etching of a couple peering from a window onto the street below was made by Max Beckmann. Look at how the scene is composed through these rhythmic hatch marks, laid down with such certainty, that create a sense of both volume and a kind of restless energy. The linear network seems to both construct and deconstruct the image, as if Beckmann is feeling his way through the scene, adjusting his perspective as he goes. The marks feel spontaneous, as if quickly jotted down, capturing a fleeting moment. But if you look closely you’ll see they're also carefully considered, building up tones and textures. See how the heavy diagonal strokes of the sky create a swirling sense of movement, contrasting with the vertical marks of the buildings. The whole scene feels very modern, in that it’s concerned with the process of seeing, and with the tension between inner and outer worlds. Beckmann often explored themes of alienation and urban life, like Edward Hopper, but with a more expressionistic edge. You can feel the weight of emotion in every line. It's a world of contrasts, a dance between darkness and light, chaos and order.