Mann im Frack (Man in Dress Coat) [p. 16] 

Editor: This is "Mann im Frack" or "Man in Dress Coat," a pencil drawing by Max Beckmann. It looks like a quick sketch. What strikes me is how unfinished it feels, yet it still conveys a sense of character. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed. Note the artist's precise use of line. Observe how line is not employed to render detail but rather to construct the essential volumes and contours of the figure. Consider how Beckmann manages to establish a representational figure by deploying line. Editor: I notice that the lines seem kind of scribbled around the bow tie. Why are some areas so much less defined than others? Curator: One might argue that the varying density and direction of the lines serve a structural purpose. Is it possible that the rapid, seemingly chaotic marks in areas such as the bow tie actually establish a textural contrast? This is contrasted with the more refined articulation of the face and collar? In the composition, this dichotomy invites contemplation on the artist's strategic approach to rendering form. Editor: That's interesting! I hadn’t thought about the contrast intentionally creating a visual push and pull. So, the way the lines are used isn't arbitrary; it's fundamental to how we perceive the image. Curator: Precisely. Formal analysis pushes us to closely observe the compositional and constructional principles and to appreciate the artist's calculated execution. Editor: That's given me a fresh viewpoint of what constitutes “finish” in art. It appears I still have a lot to learn about visual construction.