German artist Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) is best known for his actions, installations and sculptures, but first and foremost he was an artist who was interested in ideas: ideas about how the world, both natural and social, functioned, and how the latter could be improved. The way that he expressed these ideas most readily was in his drawings. Over 110 drawings by Beuys which cover the whole of his career, from 1945 to the end of his life and reflecting his encyclopaedic interest in nature, science, philosophy, mythology, society, politics and religion.