Kind in den Dünen 1907

Max Liebermann made this painting, Kind in den Dünen, with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is the pure process of painting; how the world comes into being through color and brushstroke. There's a lot of activity in the paint handling, especially in the foreground. The grass seems to vibrate with yellow and green. The paint is applied in these little jabs, and the overall effect is so energetic! The girl in the dunes emerges from this agitated ground, almost like a mirage. I love the way Liebermann's loose brushstrokes create a sense of movement and transience. Think about other impressionist painters, like Monet, who sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. There's something similar going on here; Liebermann's not trying to give us a photo-realistic depiction but rather an impression, a feeling. Art isn't about answers; it's about the questions we ask and the experiences we share.