Akrobat auf Schaukel (Acrobat on a Swing) [p. 27] 

This is a sketch by Max Beckmann, titled 'Acrobat on a Swing', part of a larger sketchbook. Beckmann lived through both World Wars, an experience that deeply marked his art. Beckmann often depicted figures in precarious, uncertain positions; reflecting the turbulent interwar period in Germany. This sketch, with its rough lines, captures the essence of movement and instability. The acrobat, a figure of both strength and vulnerability, can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition during those years. Beckmann was part of the New Objectivity movement, which aimed to portray a clear-eyed and unsentimental view of the world. Yet his work is filled with personal symbolism and a deep sense of the psychological burdens of modern life. While seemingly simple, this sketch invites us to consider the complex interplay between individual experience and the broader societal forces that shape our lives.