Zwei bezeichnete Skizzen (Two Sketches with Inscription) [p. 36] 

Max Beckmann created "Zwei bezeichnete Skizzen (Two Sketches with Inscription)" as a study, likely preparatory for a larger work, rendered in ink on paper. Beckmann, who lived through both World Wars, often channeled his experiences and observations into his art, reflecting the social and political turbulence of his time. The sketches, with their raw and immediate quality, give us insight into Beckmann’s psyche. The top sketch, a dense, chaotic composition, is juxtaposed against the more contained, geometric forms of the lower image. This visual tension captures a sense of internal conflict, mirroring the broader societal upheavals of his era. The inscriptions, though not immediately legible, further add to the sense of encoded meaning, inviting speculation. Beckmann wrote of his need to "wrest the secret meaning from the objects," and here, in these sketches, we see him in the act of seeking that meaning. This work becomes a testament to the artist's struggle to find order in chaos, to make sense of a world in turmoil, and to express the inexpressible.