Male Portrait Study (Mannliche Bildnisstudie, daruber Kohler...) [p. 7] 

This male portrait study was made by Max Beckmann, using graphite on paper. The immediacy of drawing lies in its directness, the hand moving rapidly across the surface to capture a fleeting impression. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the paper subtly influencing the graphite marks, giving a grainy quality to the image. The processes of sketching and mark-making imbue this study with an intimate and spontaneous quality. Beckmann's choice of graphite, a readily available material, underscores the accessibility of drawing as a medium. It demands no specialized tools, just paper and pencil. The simple act of putting graphite to paper becomes a means of exploring form and expression. Ultimately, this study reminds us that even the simplest of materials, when wielded with skill and intention, can yield profound insights into the human condition. It blurs the boundaries between high art and the everyday act of observation.