Weibliche Halbfigur und verworfenes groteskes Profil (Female Half Figure and Abandoned Grotesque Profile) [p. 80] 

Max Beckmann created this sketch titled "Female Half Figure and Abandoned Grotesque Profile" using graphite pencil. The drawing presents a study in contrasts, both in form and in the psychological states they evoke. The female figure, rendered with delicate lines, lies horizontally at the bottom of the composition. In stark contrast above her is the “abandoned grotesque profile,” a series of chaotic, angular lines that suggest a more tormented presence. Beckmann masterfully employs the starkness of line to suggest complex emotional states, setting up a dialectic between beauty and the grotesque. The abandoned profile appears to loom over the serene figure, creating a dynamic interplay between chaos and order. This hints at the fragmented nature of identity and the tensions between inner turmoil and outward composure, themes often explored by artists associated with expressionism. Ultimately, the power of this drawing lies in Beckmann's capacity to use simple lines to explore the depths of human experience. It also reminds us that the act of creation often involves discarding and transforming ideas, as seen in the tension between what is highlighted and what is abandoned.