Reiter (Rider) 1925

Lovis Corinth made this etching, Reiter, which is German for "Rider," working with ink on a metal plate to create an image of a horse and rider using densely packed marks. The magic of etching, for me, is how the artist coaxes a sense of volume and movement from simple lines. Look at how Corinth uses short, choppy strokes to describe the horse's muscular form and the way the lines seem to vibrate with energy. The density of the marks creates areas of shadow, giving the horse a weighty presence. The rider, though less defined, is upright, holding a long stick. The whole scene is rendered with such immediacy, it's as if Corinth captured a fleeting moment of rural life. I think of Käthe Kollwitz's prints, with their raw emotion and social commentary, and how both artists used the graphic arts to convey a powerful sense of human experience. Isn't it wonderful how a few lines can tell such a rich and evocative story?