クララ
1917
Drawn in 1917 amidst the chaos of World War I, this portrait of Klara showcases Max Beckmann’s dramatic shift toward the raw intensity of Expressionism. Instead of smooth, realistic shading, he used scratchy, urgent lines—especially in the heavily hatched hair—that make the young face look almost carved out of the paper. The subject’s wide, unblinking eyes stare directly at the viewer, creating a sense of vulnerability mixed with a strange, quiet strength. It’s a perfect example of how Beckmann stopped painting just what he saw, and started painting what he felt after witnessing the horrors of war.
- Technique
- drypoint
- Material
- paper