Bacchanal 1914

This is Lovis Corinth’s "Bacchanal," etched in ink, and it's just buzzing with energy. I love the frenetic, almost scribbled quality of the lines, like the artist couldn’t quite keep up with the scene he was trying to capture. The real juice of this piece is in those chaotic lines, especially in the foreground figures. See how the faces are almost dissolving into the frenzy? It’s like Corinth is suggesting that in moments of ecstasy, our identities blur and we become part of something bigger, wilder. Corinth reminds me a little of Max Beckmann, another German artist who wasn't afraid to get messy and explore the darker, more chaotic sides of life. Both artists see art as a way of grappling with the messiness of being human. Anyway, I find myself drawn to art that embraces ambiguity, and this piece is just overflowing with it.