In this depiction of a political meeting, Beckmann has included caricatures of some historical figures. Around the central figure of the speaker at the lectern, we have angry hecklers and a selection of figures who seem engrossed in their own thoughts. The man shown in profile under the lectern is Beckmann himself, but it is hard to read his expression to tell if he is bored or disgusted with the proceedings. This meeting of the supposed spiritual and intellectual leaders of the new post-war society looks completely shambolic.