Rocky Stream 1919

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this print, Rocky Stream, and I love how he lets the black ink do all the talking. It's like he's saying, "Here's the scene, now you figure out what's going on!" And what *is* going on? It's a landscape, sure, but it's all jagged edges and nervous lines. Look closely. See how the rocks seem to push and shove against each other? There's a real energy in that contrast, like the landscape is alive and breathing, even a bit dangerous. The ink is thick in some places, like a velvety shadow, and then almost disappears in others, leaving these ghostly trails. For me, this print is all about process. It's about Kirchner wrestling with the landscape, trying to capture its essence in these bold, uncompromising marks. It reminds me of Munch, another artist who wasn't afraid to let his emotions spill out onto the page. But Kirchner's got his own voice, a rawness that feels totally modern, like he's just grabbed a piece of the world and thrown it down for us to see.