Skizze mit vier Figuren (Titled Sketch with Four Figures) [p. 71] 1914 - 1915

Max Beckmann made this sketch of four figures on a small page, probably in a notebook, with a dark grey or brown ink. It's so immediate, right? I can almost feel the scratch of the pen on the page. The figures, captured with a few quick strokes, seem to be suspended in a shallow space, maybe even floating or flying. There’s a real sense of movement and energy, though the drawing is so spare. I wonder what he was thinking, what he intended, or if he was simply doodling, letting his pen wander. Beckmann’s work often feels like a puzzle, a mix of symbols and personal mythologies. Even in this sketch, there is a lot of expressive emotion. It makes me think of other artists, like Picasso or Guston, who used simple lines to convey complex ideas. It is a reminder that art is really an ongoing conversation, echoing through time.