Drei badende Akte an den Moritzburger Seen 1909

Editor: This is "Drei badende Akte an den Moritzburger Seen," or "Three Nudes Bathing in the Moritzburg Lakes" by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, made in 1909. It's a charcoal drawing and very sketch-like, and conveys a sense of freedom. What stands out to you about it? Curator: I see an image of the transition towards modernism, an abandonment of classical ideals regarding beauty and form, a memory that reflects this change in the European collective conscious. Note how Kirchner depicts the figures, eschewing traditional realism. Editor: So, not realistic, but symbolic? Curator: Exactly. The angularity of the figures and the jagged lines of the surrounding landscape could be interpreted as symbols of a society in upheaval, an uneasiness before the impending World War I. Consider how the bathing nudes contrast the expected imagery; traditionally they're romanticized. What feelings do *you* get from those lines? Editor: A little nervous, like they aren’t quite at ease, maybe? I see what you mean. Curator: The jagged lines surrounding the figures--almost protective, but also maybe a barrier to outside influence or a premonition. Editor: It makes you wonder what else is on their minds. Is that something unique to Kirchner’s work? Curator: Expressionists often used distorted forms and exaggerated colors to convey intense emotion and internal psychological states, both personal and collective. I encourage you to view this with those notions in mind. How would *you* describe it now? Editor: It feels like there is tension beneath the surface, hidden, that only becomes apparent once you consider what each of these figures and visual cues may signify. Thanks, I will!