Eisbahn im Berliner Tiergarten 1909

Lovis Corinth captured this lively winter scene with oil on canvas. Just look at these sweeping grey marks that conjure a cold, icy pond. You can almost feel the chill in the air! I like how the ice skaters are reduced to mere dabs of paint, their presence ghostly and fleeting. What do you think Corinth was thinking when he made this? Did he want to capture the joy of winter or was he more interested in the play of light on the frozen water? The paint is applied in these thick, juicy strokes – like frosting, almost! – that build up a rich texture. The composition is really dynamic, drawing you in with its energetic brushwork and bold contrasts. Corinth's painting reminds me of other artists like Courbet, who also weren't afraid to get messy with their materials. They're all in conversation with one another, trying to figure out how to make paint sing on canvas.