Mann und Notizen (Man with Notations) [p. 7] 

This sketch, Man with Notations, is by Max Beckmann, made on paper with graphite sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The marks are fast, efficient, capturing a likeness with minimal fuss. But let's consider the paper. Its very availability speaks volumes. Before industrialization, paper was precious. But by Beckmann's time, it was cheap and plentiful, a direct result of mechanized production. This little drawing, dashed off in what seems like a moment, is only possible thanks to the relentless march of industry, just like the factory production line, where time is of the essence. Even the graphite pencil, a humble tool, is a product of mass manufacture and global trade, and this is the genius of Beckmann: using the ephemera of modernity to dissect the modern condition. It challenges any highfalutin notion of art. He shows us that even the simplest materials carry a weighty cultural significance.