Zwei Passanten (Two Walking Figures) [p. 3] 

Max Beckmann made this drawing, Zwei Passanten, or Two Walking Figures, with graphite on paper. Notice how the artist has used the material in a rather rudimentary fashion; the figures are gestural, caught in motion by the medium. The paper itself is aged, and this brings a sense of the historical context of production into our contemporary encounter with the image. The texture, weight, and form of the graphite on the paper are crucial to the work's appearance. The lines vary in darkness, suggesting the artist’s movement and pressure as he worked. Graphite, in particular, is a material that records the artist’s touch, and the relative speed of their process. Beckmann's choice of materials reflects an interest in directness and immediacy, bypassing the conventions of high art. The quickness of the graphite lines provides insight into the urban experience of labor and movement during the artist's lifetime. This drawing is not merely a sketch, but a study of life, made visible by the artist's engagement with his materials.