Crawling Woman (Original Title)Blatt 5 aus der Mappe „Day and Dream“ 1946

Max Beckmann made this etching of a crawling woman at an unknown date, using simple lines to create a complex emotional space. I can only imagine what it might have been like to make this print. Beckmann’s cross-hatching gives the figure a sense of depth and volume, but it also adds to the feeling of anxiety. The woman's pose is awkward, vulnerable, and it makes me wonder what she is crawling towards or away from. There is a claustrophobic feeling in the dark, undefined space behind her. Is it a doorway? Is she trapped? Beckmann was a master of capturing the human condition in all its beauty and ugliness and reminds me of other German Expressionists like Kirchner and Heckel. His work continues to challenge and inspire us to confront the complexities of life. I think artists like Beckmann are in an ongoing conversation about the way the world is, and how to make art about it.