The Buck (Original Title)Blatt 9 aus der Mappe „Day and Dream“ 1946

Editor: Here we have Max Beckmann’s "The Buck," a lithograph from 1946. The stark black ink on paper gives it a real immediacy. The image feels quite symbolic... what's your take on this, knowing Beckmann's history? Curator: This print speaks volumes about Beckmann’s experience as a German Expressionist navigating the tumultuous socio-political landscape of the 20th century. The goat, the enigmatic figure… It's more than a simple portrait, wouldn’t you agree? It demands a deeper inquiry. Editor: Absolutely. There's a tension between the apparent normalcy of the figures and the unease they project. Are you thinking of how Beckmann was dismissed from his teaching post in 1933 and later deemed a 'degenerate artist'? Curator: Precisely! Considering this context, the 'buck,' or male goat, traditionally represents virility, but also irrationality and scapegoating. The ambiguous figure, seemingly draped and masked, takes on a more sinister dimension. The two create a dichotomy: power and the veiled oppressed. How does this contrast and comparison speak to you? Editor: I hadn't considered that direct contrast before, but it adds so much! The figure feels almost complicit in its anonymity, while the goat stands proudly, even defiantly. The sketch-like style also contributes to the emotional depth and psychological insights of the piece. Curator: Exactly! We're compelled to think about how identities are performed, masked, and manipulated during times of oppression, aren't we? Editor: This really shifts how I see the piece. Thanks for showing me the deeper layers. Curator: My pleasure. Art is always a dialogue, reflecting and questioning the world around us.