Farbentanz 1932

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made "Farbentanz" with watercolor and ink. The title means 'color dance' - and the painting does feel like a dance. Kirchner's process here seems immediate, with fluid lines suggesting figures in motion. The colors are washed in, transparent, like watercolor does - blues, pinks, and yellows overlap, creating a layered effect. Look at how the ink lines define the figures, but also let the colors bleed through. It's like he’s capturing a fleeting moment, a glimpse of energy. One particularly striking area is where the blue figure overlaps the pink, creating a soft purple haze, a really nice surprise. Kirchner was part of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, and you can see that influence here in the bold use of color and the raw, emotional energy. But you can also see a similarity to Matisse’s dancers. Kirchner invites us to see the world not just as it is, but how it feels.