Zwei Frauen am Kaffeetisch in Kirchners Atelier c. 1923

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this crayon drawing of two women at a coffee table in his studio, and immediately, I’m thinking about how the act of drawing or painting is like having a conversation with someone or something. I imagine Kirchner sitting in his studio, observing these women, and trying to capture their essence with his crayons. He’s probably thinking about form and space, and how to convey a sense of depth and emotion with just a few lines and colors. Notice how the colors – browns, blues and yellows – create a mood, a vibe. And how the lines are kind of scratchy and raw, which gives the drawing a sense of immediacy, as if he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, look at this! This is what I see, this is how I feel.” And then you realize, wow, Kirchner is also in conversation with the likes of Matisse or Munch. Artists build on each other. It’s a back and forth across time.