Henny Porten 1923

Editor: This ink drawing, “Henny Porten,” was created by Lovis Corinth in 1923. It’s a very small work, and yet there is an intensity in the woman’s gaze that draws me in. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The gaze certainly is captivating, isn’t it? Porten was a huge silent film star, and Corinth has captured something of her screen presence here. Note how the artist emphasizes her eyes—they are large, heavily outlined. As a star, her face would be instantly recognizable; it was the cultural memory of the time. Do you think he’s successful in conveying fame? Editor: I think so. There's almost a halo effect created by the lines around her head; is that intentional? Curator: Perhaps. Or it may simply be the artist's shorthand for suggesting the glamour that surrounded her. What else do you notice about how Corinth represents her? Consider the medium itself. Editor: It seems quickly sketched, unfinished almost. Maybe the lines show a tension. She seems fragile. Curator: Interesting. The Expressionist style often uses such fractured lines and exaggerated features to express inner turmoil or anxiety. It might reveal something of the pressures placed on a celebrity in that era, or even the changing social landscape of post-World War I Germany. Do you get a sense of that? Editor: I do now, especially considering the historical context and the techniques. It's amazing how much information is packed into such a seemingly simple drawing! Curator: Absolutely. Corinth used readily-understood imagery – like Porten's instantly-recognizable face and those stylized marks – to speak about broader cultural anxieties, relying on viewers of the time to fill in the unspoken narrative through their own associations.