Morning (Original Title)Blatt 11 aus der Mappe „Day and Dream“ 1946

Max Beckmann made this print, titled "Morning," using the intaglio process of drypoint. This involves scratching directly into a metal plate, a technique that allows for immediacy, but also results in a somewhat rough, burred line. Look closely, and you can see how Beckmann exploited this quality. It gives the image a raw, almost journalistic feel. The subject matter certainly contributes to that impression, portraying a rather unglamorous scene after what we might assume was a long night. Prints like this one were relatively accessible at the time, and Beckmann used them to reach a wide audience. The drypoint medium, with its somewhat coarse aesthetic, perfectly suited his desire to capture modern life without any romanticism. In the end, it's the material and process that give this image its punch, reminding us that even the most seemingly straightforward artworks are deeply rooted in the physical world. It challenges our traditional notions of fine art by revealing the beauty of the creative practice.