Untitled 1920

This drawing of a harbor scene was made by Max Pechstein using expressive charcoal lines. It's the kind of piece where you can really feel the artist working through the image, almost like sketching out a memory or a feeling. The beauty of this piece lies in its simplicity, that rich black charcoal against the off white of the paper. Pechstein uses it to create texture – look at the choppy water, suggested by quick, scribbled marks. The way he builds up the tones, it’s not about a realistic depiction, it's more about the energy and movement. Notice those radiant lines emanating from the lighthouse, a gesture that brings a sense of drama and dynamism to the scene. Pechstein was part of Die Brücke, a group of expressionist artists, who were all about raw emotion and direct expression. You can see that spirit in this work, a kind of urgency and immediacy. It reminds me a little of some of Kirchner’s more graphic work. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that art can be about capturing a moment, a feeling, an impression, more than a perfect representation.