Sarika II (Original Title) 1922

Max Beckmann made this drawing of Sarika with what looks like a graphite pencil on paper. I love that the artist lets you see all the searching lines, the erasures, the adjustments. It makes the image feel alive, like it's breathing. The sitter's gaze is intense, but there's also a kind of vulnerability. What was he thinking when he made this? What was it like to sit for him? Was there a silent dialogue between the artist and the model? I am always curious about how artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. I find it interesting that the artist did not attempt to conceal their working method. Usually artists try to hide this, but not here. This openness is refreshing because it helps us connect with it. Seeing each line gives the drawing character that makes it worth studying for inspiration.