weibliche Bildhnisstudie, frontal (Portrait of a Woman) [p. 86] 

This is Max Beckmann's pencil sketch, "Portrait of a Woman," created sometime during his lifetime, which spanned two World Wars and the rise of the Third Reich. Beckmann’s work often grapples with themes of alienation, anxiety, and the search for meaning in a fractured world. Beckmann, like many artists of his time, was deeply affected by the social and political turmoil of the early 20th century. His experiences in World War I, where he served as a medical orderly, profoundly impacted his worldview, leading to a sense of disillusionment reflected in his art. Here, the woman's gaze is direct, yet there is a sense of detachment. Her identity seems obscured by the rudimentary and unfinished sketch. Beckmann lived through a period of immense change and upheaval, and his portraits often reflect the instability and uncertainty of the human condition. This unfinished quality is also visible in his other portraits, suggesting a deeper commentary on the fleeting nature of identity.