Gethsemane 1916

Oskar Kokoschka made this etching, Gethsemane, sometime during his long career. The marks feel quick, gestural, capturing a sense of immediate response. I love how the varying pressure of the tool creates depth and mood. The overall feeling is one of anxious energy. See how the lines are dense and scratchy, building up a rich texture? The foreground figures are defined with more weight and detail, particularly the faces, which are haunting. The repeated marks, like a nervous tic, create an atmosphere of disquiet. Notice the small dog, almost lost in the undergrowth, a detail that adds a layer of vulnerability to the scene. Kokoschka’s expressionist style reminds me of other artists grappling with representing inner emotional states like Munch or Beckmann. Yet his mark-making here is very singular. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation. We borrow, steal, and transform ideas across time, imbuing them with our own experiences.