Sketch of Two Male Heads 1915

Lovis Corinth made this print, Sketch of Two Male Heads, using etching, a process that’s all about mark-making. I love how the figures emerge from a network of lines, as if the artist is thinking through the image, allowing it to come into being stroke by stroke. The etching feels immediate and unfiltered, like a direct transfer of thought onto the plate. Notice how some areas are densely worked, creating depth and shadow, while others are barely touched, leaving space for the viewer's imagination to fill in the gaps. Look at the face in the foreground, it's rendered with such intensity, every line seems to vibrate with energy. Then, the shadowy face behind him, like a ghost. It reminds me of the raw, psychological portraits of someone like Munch, where the surface is just as important as the subject, each line a testament to the act of creation. For me, this piece isn't just about representation, it's about the process of seeing and feeling, laid bare for us to witness.