Descent from the Cross, plate 11 from the portfolio ‘Faces’
1918
Beckmann created this harrowing scene in 1918, right at the end of World War I, and it's basically a visual scream about the trauma of that era. Instead of a holy, peaceful biblical moment, he gives us a tangled, chaotic mess of emaciated figures lowering a body that looks more like a broken puppet than a savior. The sharp, scratchy lines make everyone look anxious and stretched out, perfectly capturing the Expressionist vibe of a world turned upside down. It's plate 11 from his portfolio 'Faces', which was all about showing the raw, ugly truth of human suffering rather than pretty lies.
Views: 9