"Height, width, and depth are the three phenomena which I must transfer into one plane to form the abstract surface of the picture, and thus to protect myself from the infinity of space"

Max Beckmann's quote speaks with the difficulty of creating a two-dimensional painting that conveys the intricacy of a three-dimensional world. He is suggesting that he must take the three-dimensional phenomena of height, width, and depth and move them into a single airplane in order to create an abstract surface of the picture. By doing this, he is securing himself from the frustrating infinity of area. This quote speaks to the trouble of developing a painting that captures the intricacy of the world around us. It also speaks to the power of art to develop a sense of order and structure out of the turmoil of the world. By moving the three-dimensional phenomena into a two-dimensional airplane, Beckmann is able to create a painting that conveys the complexity of the world in a way that is accessible to the audience.