Woodland Path c. 1890s

Lovis Corinth created ‘Woodland Path’ using pastel on paper. Corinth, a German artist, navigated the shifting landscapes of late 19th and early 20th century art, moving from naturalism to impressionism and eventually expressionism. This drawing encapsulates that journey; it’s a romantic, almost dreamlike vision of nature, yet the strokes of pastel hint at an underlying tension, a departure from purely representational art. What does it mean to seek solace in nature when the world outside is rapidly changing? As Germany industrialized and urbanized, the forest became a space for reflection, an escape from modern life. But whose escape was it? The Romantics imagined the forest as a German homeland; this resonates with the rising tide of nationalism that would later engulf Europe. As you gaze at this path, consider what it means to seek refuge. Is it a personal journey, or is it tied to broader cultural and political movements?