Lake with Sailboats c. 1912

Editor: Here we have Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s "Lake with Sailboats," a small watercolor piece. The lines are so energetic, but it also feels… unfinished, somehow. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The spontaneity is deliberate. Kirchner, haunted by war and societal change, often used fragmented forms to express psychological states. Does the water remind you of anything? Editor: Now that you mention it, the swirl of blues gives it a sense of unease, almost like a whirlpool. Curator: Precisely. It’s a symbol of inner turmoil projected onto a seemingly idyllic scene. Do you think he's commenting on society, or his own inner struggles? Editor: It makes me wonder if both were intertwined for Kirchner. Thanks, I hadn't considered that! Curator: Visual symbols are powerful. This piece offers a glimpse into a troubled mind reflecting a troubled era.