Seascape 1916

Lovis Corinth made this Seascape as an etching, and I love the freedom in his marks. It’s all about the line here, isn’t it? Scratchy, confident lines that build up the forms. Look at how the mass of dark lines suggest the bushes in the foreground, so vigorous and alive. And then compare that to the thinner, more sparse lines used for the sky and the distant water. It’s like he’s saying, “I know what a bush *feels* like, and I’m going to show you with my lines.” I love how the electricity pole on the right is placed in relation to the bush. There's something very modern about this image, in which wild nature is contrasted with the telegraph pole of modern communication. His lines are not labored, or too descriptive. He’s getting at something essential with a minimum of fuss. It reminds me of work by Max Liebermann, who was a contemporary of Corinth, and shared a similar dedication to frankness and honesty. I like art that doesn't try too hard.