Am Tisch c. 1905 - 1911

Max Liebermann made this pastel drawing, “Am Tisch,” sometime in his career, we don't know exactly when. I love the way the colors are layered, like a half-remembered dream. Look at the casual strokes, especially in the figures at the table, almost scribbled, yet they manage to capture a sense of form and space. The texture is chalky, dry, a real contrast to the hazy greens and yellows in the background that suggest trees and light. Notice how the blue pastel marks imply the cool surface of the table, while the black marks cluster together to describe a dense, bustling crowd. It reminds me a little of Degas, with its fleeting impression of modern life. What I really love is that it embraces the messy, unresolved nature of seeing. Art isn't about capturing the perfect image, it's more about the ongoing conversation, the way we see and feel our way through the world.