Pierrette (Pierette) [p. 48] 

Here we have Max Beckmann’s drawing, Pierrette, made with graphite on paper. Beckmann lived through both World Wars, witnessing firsthand the collapse of societal norms and the rise of extremism. This sketch of Pierrette, a stock character from French pantomime, embodies themes of identity and performance which Beckmann explored throughout his career. Pierrette, traditionally a female character, is here depicted with ambiguous features. The figure's androgynous quality challenges conventional gender roles, reflecting the shifting social landscape of the early 20th century. The Pierrette figure becomes a mask, an exploration of the self as performed. Beckmann seemed to ask, what does it mean to be authentic? The artist’s loose sketch style conveys a sense of unease, mirroring the anxiety and uncertainty of the interwar period. Beckmann uses the commedia dell’arte character to explore themes of identity, illusion, and the human condition.