Weibliche Bildnisstudie, Detail (Female Portrait Study, Detail) [p. 32] 1918 - 1919

This sketch of a woman’s face was made by Max Beckmann, likely sometime in the first half of the twentieth century, using graphite on paper. Beckmann’s artistic career, and indeed his life, was deeply affected by the social and political conditions of Germany and Europe in this period. Beckmann’s experience in World War One led him to a profound disillusionment with German society. The rise of Nazism further alienated him, and he was eventually dismissed from his teaching position at the Städel Art School in Frankfurt as part of the Nazi purge of degenerate art. This sketch, with its raw and unfinished quality, can be seen as a reaction against the dominant artistic styles promoted by the Nazi regime, which favored idealized and heroic representations. Understanding the historical context of Beckmann's life and work—through archival research and biographical study—enables us to appreciate the depth and complexity of his artistic vision.