Zuschauerraum eines Theaters (Theater Auditorium) [p. 16] 

This is Max Beckmann's sketch of a theater auditorium. Beckmann, who lived through both World Wars, was deeply affected by the social and political turmoil of his time. There’s an unsettled quality to this sketch, a sense of unease which permeates the auditorium. Reflect on the history of theaters as spaces for community, storytelling, and the enactment of social rituals, while also serving as mirrors reflecting society’s values, anxieties, and power structures. Consider the complex interplay of spectatorship, performance, and identity. The empty theater becomes a stage for our own reflections. We're invited to consider our roles as observers and participants in the unfolding drama of history. This sketch is not just about the physical space of a theater; it is a stage for the theater of life itself.