Girl Under a Japanese Parasol 1909

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this oil painting of a reclining nude with a Japanese parasol, sometime in the early 20th century. You can see Kirchner felt his way into the painting through thin washes and vibrant brushstrokes of colour – that sunny yellow on her back, the blue shadow behind her knee. Imagine Kirchner’s standing in front of the canvas, circling the figure, capturing her contours in these vivid, clashing shades, trying to catch the light, the shadow, the mood of the moment. There’s a sense of urgency in the way he works, a desire to pin down a fleeting impression. And look, the colour is almost lurid! It’s a real Expressionist trick. He is a cool painter and this piece is a great example of the many ways that he approached depicting people. I love how the handle of the parasol becomes an extension of her arm, anchoring her in place. And the way the jagged outline of the parasol creates an electric halo around her head, like some kind of weird, spiky crown. It's a reminder that painting is always an act of translation, a conversation across time. We see through each other's eyes, and we keep on going.