Ruderer 1928

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this watercolour, Ruderer. I love how the bold black lines define the figures against the watery blues and greens – it’s like a memory surfacing. Imagine Kirchner, brush in hand, quickly capturing the scene, trying to pin down a fleeting moment of leisure. Those dark outlines almost vibrate, don't they? They remind me of my own process, how I often start with a quick gesture, a sort of emotional sketch. There's a raw energy here that’s so appealing. You can see the influence of other painters, but Kirchner makes it his own. Painting is like a conversation across time, artists responding to each other, riffing on themes, pushing boundaries. Each brushstroke carries intention, yet embraces accident. It’s that dance between control and chance that makes painting so alive.