Cain 1916

Editor: Lovis Corinth's "Cain" is a striking stone lithograph. The figure is so raw, and seems overwhelmed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Consider Cain's posture; the way he's hunched suggests deep shame. Corinth uses line to convey emotional weight, echoing the Bible's narrative of fratricide, a foundational story of guilt in Western culture. Does the mark-making remind you of anything? Editor: Yes, it seems to express torment, almost like he’s trying to scratch away the memory. Curator: Precisely. Cain becomes an enduring symbol of primal sin and the burden of conscience. It's a visually arresting depiction of psychological anguish, rooted in ancient narrative. Editor: I never thought about how the technique itself could amplify the meaning. Curator: Indeed. The image and its making are inseparable in conveying Cain’s lasting legacy.