Large Primitive Head in Profile 1920 - 1921

Max Weber made this primitive head, on this irregular piece of paper, perhaps searching for a way to depict modern life through older, ancient forms. Look at those earth tones and layered colors and the way they combine to give the figure volume and depth. I imagine Weber starting with just a basic outline, then adding layer upon layer of color, wiping some away, then adding some more. Doesn't it look like the artist might have been wrestling with representation and abstraction? Thinking, How can I depict a person? I feel Weber pushing and pulling, trying to find the right balance between figuration and something more primal. And he’s not alone: Artists are always digging into the past, finding new ways to make marks that feel immediate and timeless.