Sketches and drawings related to ‘Der Soldat in der deutschen Vergangenheit’, by George Liebe 1915

This is Winold Reiss’s preparatory sketch made for ‘Der Soldat in der deutschen Vergangenheit’. You can see how Reiss constructed his image using what look like quite simple, blocky forms. It’s all about process. Look at the figure in the center with his arms up. You can clearly see how Reiss is working out the angles of the body, almost like a geometric puzzle. The pencil lines are tentative, searching for the right pose, the right balance. Some of the lines are very light, while others are darker and more defined. I love the way the sketch captures movement and energy, even in its unfinished state. The figures seem to be caught in a moment of intense action, their bodies strained and contorted. This reminds me a little of Picabia, someone else who wasn’t afraid to let the process show, the thinking made visible. It’s not about perfection, but about the journey of discovery.