Zwei Frauen (Two Women) [p. 40] 

Editor: This drawing is titled *Zwei Frauen*, or *Two Women*, and it's attributed to Max Beckmann. The medium appears to be pencil and maybe ink on paper. It’s… intriguing. The starkness of the lines, and the direct gaze of one of the women, it makes me wonder about the dynamic between them. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, considering the context of German Expressionism within which Beckmann was working, particularly the socio-political unrest and shifting gender roles of the early 20th century, this simple sketch might reveal something deeper. Who do you think these women are in relation to each other, and to the artist? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it in terms of gender roles… To me they could be sisters, friends… Perhaps even reflections of different aspects of the same woman? Curator: Precisely. Beckmann often explored fractured identities in his work. Consider the German concept of *Doppelgänger*. Is the contrast in their gazes telling? One is averted, almost pleading, while the other stares directly out. It challenges us, doesn’t it? What power dynamics might be at play? And, thinking more broadly, what about the male gaze within Expressionism? Editor: I see what you mean. It almost feels like a study in opposing forces… the woman looking away seems vulnerable, while the other is much more assertive, even challenging. It’s not just a simple portrait then, it’s loaded with those anxieties. Curator: Yes, and anxieties pertinent not just to Beckmann’s time, but ones we are still grappling with in contemporary discussions about female representation and agency. Considering intersectionality – how might their class or perceived identity influence the reading of power here? Editor: I didn’t initially read it that way, but thinking about it now… It makes the sketch much more powerful and complex. Thanks for broadening my perspective. Curator: My pleasure! Art, like activism, is about engaging in dialogue and questioning the status quo. Hopefully, you'll continue that dialogue in your own work!