Strommast, zu .018 gehörend (Power Pole, belonging to .018) [p. 46] 

This is a graphite sketch of a power pole, made by Max Beckmann, part of a larger sketchbook. The artist utilized the most basic of materials – paper and pencil – to capture a utilitarian object. Look closely, and you'll see that Beckmann has rendered the pole with simple, almost childlike lines. The sketch appears effortless, but consider the intention behind it. The power pole, usually overlooked, is placed front and center. Its form – a stark, angular structure against the horizon – speaks to industrial progress, but also perhaps to the depersonalization of modern life. Beckmann wasn't interested in slick surfaces or perfect representation. Instead, the texture of the paper, the faintness of the graphite, and the quick, expressive strokes all contribute to an immediacy that invites us to reconsider the world around us. By focusing on the power pole, a symbol of modernity and labor, Beckmann elevates the everyday. He challenges us to find significance in the mundane and to question the impact of industry on our lives. The sketch is a reminder that even the simplest materials and subjects can convey profound ideas.