The Banquet of Trimalchio – pl.I 1919

Lovis Corinth made this etching called "The Banquet of Trimalchio" using fine lines to suggest tone and form. I imagine him hunched over the plate, scratching away at the surface to make this leering face emerge. I'm feeling for Corinth here, trying to capture the drama of this ancient feast! Look at how he uses these quick, confident strokes to create the folds of the toga and the wild tangle of grapes in the hair. There's a real energy in the marks, a sense of trying to grab hold of something fleeting. I keep thinking about other artists who were trying to harness something of the classical world, like Picasso, or even Cy Twombly. Artists are always in conversation, you know? Reaching back, borrowing, and adding their own spin. For me, painting is like having a conversation with the past, present, and future all at once. It’s about embracing the mess, and seeing what emerges.