Groep geeuwende mensen 1918 - 1919

Here's Max Beckmann’s etching, *Group of Yawning People*, made with black ink on paper. Look at all those gaping mouths and wandering hands – what a wretched scene! Beckmann has captured a moment of collective ennui so palpable, you can almost feel the stifled air. I imagine him hunched over the plate, scratching away with his needle, each line a tiny act of rebellion against the tediousness of existence. You can tell he’s relishing every mark, digging into the surface to bring forth these grotesque faces. Beckmann's work has always been concerned with capturing the dark side of humanity. I find a strange kinship with him. Maybe it’s the shared desire to find beauty in the grotesque, to confront the uncomfortable truths that lie beneath the surface. It’s all about the process, the struggle to make sense of the chaos through mark-making.