The Fair Imperia 1925

Lovis Corinth made this painting, The Fair Imperia, with oil on canvas, and you can see the process. The painting seems to be almost collapsing in front of you, which is what gives it its feeling of life. Up close, you can see the paint is applied really thickly, loaded onto the brush. There are these gorgeous pinks, reds and yellows swirling, giving the whole thing a raw, almost primal feel. Look at how the reds in the upper section clash and vibrate against the darks. There’s a real push-pull there, creating a flickering effect. I love how these contrasts really pull the painting together. Corinth seems to be in conversation with artists like Manet, using paint in a similar way to describe contemporary life with a cool, modern sensibility. To me, this painting shows how art is often more about the questions than the answers.