Tänzer (Dancer) [p. 3] 1927

Max Beckmann made this drawing, likely in one of his many sketchbooks, with just a pencil and paper. Isn’t it amazing how a few lines can suggest so much movement? I bet Beckmann was really thinking about Degas, and those dancers he loved to draw. Look how the dancer's leg sweeps across the page, and the other figure kind of leans back, watching. I can almost hear the music! You know, a painting is a record of touch, a kind of dance between the artist, their materials, and the subject. Beckmann probably made this drawing quickly to capture a fleeting moment. It's not about perfection, but more about the energy and the feeling of the scene. I’m sure he was looking at other artists while he was drawing; that's how it works, we all learn from each other. Art is like one big, ongoing conversation!