Mehrfigurige Szene (Figural Scene) [p. 3] 

Max Beckmann created this ink drawing, "Figural Scene," on a page from a sketchbook. Beckmann lived through both World Wars and the rise of totalitarian regimes, witnessing firsthand the disintegration of social norms and the psychological toll of conflict. Beckmann's sketches often served as a way for him to process the chaos of his surroundings. Here, the figures seem trapped in a web of lines, suggesting confinement and a loss of individual identity. This resonates with the broader sense of alienation felt by many during the interwar period. Were the marks on the page made quickly? Did they express a kind of anxiety of their own? Beckmann once said, "Art is freedom." Yet, looking at this sketch, we can see a struggle, a tension between the desire for freedom and the experience of being ensnared by historical forces. This piece reminds us that art can be both a mirror reflecting society's struggles and a beacon illuminating paths toward personal and collective liberation.