The Walchensee, Serpentine 1920

Lovis Corinth painted "The Walchensee, Serpentine" with visible brushstrokes that feel both deliberate and spontaneous, capturing a landscape in motion. It’s like he's wrestling with the scene, trying to pin down its essence. The paint is applied with a juicy thickness, particularly in the foreground, giving a tangible quality to the houses and foliage. Look closely at the road winding through the village; each stroke seems to follow its own path, yet collectively they define the curve and the light playing across its surface. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving, turning, and adjusting to the scene. This isn’t just about representation; it’s about the act of painting itself, the way Corinth channels his energy into the materiality of the work. It's a world away from the precision of someone like Ingres, but the handling of paint has a similar intensity to Van Gogh. Ultimately it leaves us with a sense of place that’s less about geographical accuracy and more about the feeling of being there.