begonnene Studie (Intial Sketch) [p. 51] 

Here is the entry, an initial sketch by Max Beckmann, rendered in pencil on paper. The dominant visual experience is one of incompleteness. An interrupted, curvilinear form dances across the aged paper. Beckmann, like many artists of his time, sought to deconstruct traditional modes of representation. What we see here isn't a polished depiction, but rather the raw scaffolding of an idea. The lines themselves seem to question the stability of form. They intersect and diverge, never quite settling into a coherent image. This fragmentation can be seen as a reflection of the broader anxieties of the early 20th century, when artists began to challenge fixed meanings. The sketch invites us to consider the artwork as a process, rather than a finished product. It destabilizes the traditional artistic values by emphasizing the transient nature of thought and creation. It’s a beautiful demonstration of how art engages with ever-evolving interpretations.