Animal Studies 1917

Lovis Corinth made these animal studies as part of his process; they're quick, exploratory, and direct. It's like he’s thinking with his hand. The marks here are so raw and immediate. Look at how the heavy dark lines define the legs of the cow on the left, almost like shorthand for mass and weight. And then notice the delicate, scratchy lines that suggest the form of the birds—there's a real contrast between the energetic confidence of the cows and the tentative quality of the birds. It’s so physical, you can practically feel the artist’s hand moving across the plate. It reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, where the line is equally expressive and full of feeling. Both artists share this ability to make the medium speak so directly about the subject. Ultimately, it's the openness and the sense of searching that makes this print so compelling—it’s not about answers, it's about questions.