Lovis Corinth 1920

Editor: This etching, "Lovis Corinth," created by Hermann Struck in 1920, is incredibly striking. The rough lines give Corinth a very intense gaze. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful engagement with identity and artistic legacy. Struck, a Jewish artist, created this portrait of Corinth during a period of intense social and political upheaval in Germany. Given the rise of antisemitism and the complex relationship between Jewish and non-Jewish artists in the Expressionist movement, it begs the question: What does it mean for Struck to portray Corinth, a leading figure in German art? How does power operate in the relationship between the two artists? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered the power dynamics at play. Curator: Think about the very act of representation. Who has the authority to depict whom? Struck’s mark-making seems to capture something essential about Corinth’s character, but whose gaze are we really seeing reflected here? Editor: So, you're suggesting the portrait is not just about Corinth but also a reflection of Struck's own identity and position within the art world? Curator: Precisely. The act of creating this portrait can be seen as Struck staking his own claim within a complex, often exclusionary, artistic landscape. And how might Corinth himself have viewed being rendered by Struck? This artwork is a layered conversation on artistic identity, cultural belonging, and the complicated nature of portraiture. Editor: This has really opened my eyes to seeing portraits as more than just likenesses. Curator: Exactly! Art provides a lens through which we can better understand not just individual artistic achievements but the broader social and historical narratives that shape them.