Couple in Front of a Carriage 1914

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this etching, Couple in Front of a Carriage, by scraping lines into a metal plate, probably sometime in the early 20th century. It's all about process, you can really feel the scratching and the hurried marks that create a sense of nervous energy. Looking closely, you can see how the lines vary in thickness and depth, creating different shades of gray and black. The overall impression is one of a fleeting moment, like a snapshot of a busy street scene. Notice in particular the wheels of the carriage. They are rendered with such energy, the circles not quite closed, the lines radiating out from the center like spokes of light. Kirchner captures the feeling of movement, the blur of the city, and the alienation of modern life. You can see a similar sensibility in the work of other expressionist artists like Edvard Munch, who also used bold lines and exaggerated forms to convey intense emotions. Art is just one big conversation, isn't it? Always has been!