Gasometer in Schöneberg 1912

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, Gasometer in Schöneberg, with ink, using quick, scratchy lines to capture a scene. The process feels immediate, like he was trying to get everything down as quickly as possible. Looking at the marks, you can see where the ink is darker, where he pressed harder, or went over a line a few times. The scratchiness creates a nervous energy, like the whole scene is vibrating. The curved road in the foreground, made with so many little lines, feels like it’s pulling you into the picture. You see this kind of all-over mark-making a lot with Kirchner. Think of his paintings of Berlin street scenes, those jagged, anxious strokes. There's a raw, unfiltered quality that feels very modern. It's like he’s not just showing you a place, but also how it feels to be there, a sensation that's never just one thing.