Singende Frau (Woman Singing) [p. 7] 

Max Beckmann made this drawing of a singing woman with graphite on paper. Beckmann’s choice of materials is interesting. Graphite on paper is, of course, a classic combination. The immediacy of the medium suggests the fleeting nature of performance, or perhaps the disposable role of women performers during the turn of the century. But notice the quality of line. It's neither precise nor particularly expressive. Rather, Beckmann uses it as a means to quickly capture form. You can sense his hand moving rapidly across the page, capturing the essence of the moment. The very act of drawing becomes a way of understanding the world and commenting on the nature of labor itself. In the end, this seemingly simple drawing invites us to consider the labor involved in both its making and its subject's profession. It blurs the lines between fine art and everyday observation.