Männliche Bildnisstudie (Male Portrait) [p. 23] 1918 - 1919

This is Max Beckmann's "Male Portrait," sketched in what looks like pencil in a small notebook. The grid peeks through like a ghost, adding another layer to the subject, which is already filtered through Beckmann’s state of mind. The thing about drawings is that they are so physical. This one is all line, and that line has a job to do – it defines the edge of the form, but it also stands in for shadow. It’s like Beckmann is thinking out loud, searching for the right way to describe what he sees. Look at the bold lines around the collar, scratched in with an almost aggressive energy, and how they give way to lighter, more tentative marks that shape the face. I love the way Beckmann uses the most economical means to get his idea across. His ability to do so reminds me of Picasso, who also had the ability to create the illusion of form and depth with just a few simple lines. It makes you think about how much we read into art, and how little is really needed to communicate something powerful.