Im Palast der Prinzessinnen c. 1922

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, titled "Im Palast der Prinzessinnen," with oil on canvas; the date is unknown. I imagine Kirchner, brush in hand, building up these figures, layer by layer. The colours, reds and greens, feel bold, like he’s trying to capture a mood, an energy more than just what he sees. Look at the way the paint is applied—thick in some spots, almost scrubbed on, in others, creating this vibrant, uneasy surface. The gestures of the figures, those sharp, angular outlines... It's like he's dissecting how we see and feel, making it all visible on the canvas. You can see echoes of other painters here, maybe Matisse, but Kirchner's got his own thing going. He is pushing the boundaries of what paint can do. It all feels so emotionally charged. Painters, we're all just talking to each other across time, you know, stealing ideas, reacting, and pushing back.