Notizen (Notation) [p. 3] 

This page of notations was made by Max Beckmann, likely during his time in the military in World War I. The composition is a series of handwritten notes and faint sketches, structured vertically down the page. Notice the repetitive use of numbers and abbreviations, giving the page a codified feel. The materiality of the page is emphasized by its aged, worn texture, with visible creases and discoloration. These details may reveal Beckmann's efforts to impose order amidst the chaos and uncertainty of wartime. By focusing on structure, Beckmann seeks to create a sense of stability and control. This artistic choice functions not only aesthetically but also as a psychological response to the disorienting experience of war. It is a semiotic act, where the ordered arrangement serves as a signifier for a deeper human need for structure in the face of existential uncertainty.