junger Mann mit aufgestütztem Kopf (Young Man, Propped Up) [p. 15] 

Here we see a sketch in pencil on paper by Max Beckmann, titled "Young Man, Propped Up". The initial impression is one of stark simplicity. A young man's face emerges from the pale ground of the paper, his expression a somewhat disconcerting, sideways glance. The composition relies heavily on the stark contrast between the delicate lines of the sketch and the emptiness around it. Notice how the artist uses hatching to render the form of the man’s face, creating a subtle play of light and shadow. This technique not only gives depth to the figure but also adds a textural quality to the surface. The eyes, rendered with a sharp, almost unsettling intensity, draw us into a psychological space, hinting at underlying tension. Beckmann’s deliberate use of a limited palette, the monochrome of pencil against paper, serves to amplify the emotional impact of the image. This is a study in minimalism, where less becomes more. It is not about depicting likeness, but about conveying an emotional state through the most basic of means. This underscores how even the simplest of formal choices can deeply affect our understanding of the artwork.