Bank of a Lake 1910

Editor: We're looking at Max Pechstein's "Bank of a Lake" from 1910, painted in that vibrant Fauvist style. The colours are so intense and a bit unnatural – the yellow figures against the blue water… It's a very sensual, almost dreamlike scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: You nailed it – the raw sensuality just shimmers, doesn’t it? For me, Pechstein is dipping into something primal. It is not just pretty colours, it's emotional dynamite. He's using colour to express feeling more than to represent reality, really pushing the boundaries. Look at the impasto, how thickly the paint is applied! The colours feel ALIVE. And yet, a touch melancholy perhaps? As if even paradise can hold a touch of the bittersweet. What do you think about how it aligns with German Expressionism? Editor: The Expressionist connection makes sense - it does have that emotionally charged feel, a definite move away from traditional representation. I hadn’t really thought about the impasto contributing to the emotional impact. Curator: Think about it: That texture is basically Pechstein screaming with paint! Like, "This is how I FEEL!". He went a bit further, taking that post-impressionist influence, just detonating the traditional, rather conventional painting style. Editor: I never thought about impasto as 'screaming' with paint! I will look differently from now on. Curator: The pleasure is all mine. It helps to unlock a whole new understanding of expressionism!