Raubkatze hinter Gitterstäben (Big Cat Behind Bars) [p. 48] 

This sketch of a big cat behind bars was made by Max Beckmann. Observe how the bars confine the wild animal, a recurring motif throughout art history, symbolizing restriction. The image of imprisonment extends beyond physical constraints, tapping into deep psychological themes of repression and inner turmoil. Consider, for instance, how similar visual constraints appear in ancient Egyptian art, where animals in hieroglyphs, though revered, are often depicted within borders, indicating controlled power. The bars, crude as they are, evoke feelings of entrapment, a sentiment echoed in countless works where figures are symbolically or literally caged. These cages or prisons invoke introspection on the human condition. The Raubkatze, the big cat, is a recurring motif across cultures, a testament to the enduring human fascination with primal power and the subconscious. Consider the emotional impact of this simple sketch—the bars almost seem to vibrate with the suppressed energy of the animal, engaging the viewer on a subconscious level. The symbol of wildness, contained.