Die Prozession I 1903

Albin Egger-Lienz made this painting, "Die Prozession I," with oil on canvas, and right away, you can see how he’s wrestling with light and shadow to create this kind of dreamlike procession. There's this real push and pull between the figures in their white dresses and the darkness of the forest. Up close, you notice how thin the paint is, almost like a wash in places, letting the canvas breathe through. Then, in other spots, thicker strokes give form to the faces and the folds of fabric. Look at the way he renders the trees on the right, those vertical strokes almost feel like they're vibrating, pulling your eye upwards and drawing you in. It reminds me a bit of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s early landscapes, that same interest in capturing a mood more than a literal scene. It’s not about perfection; it's about feeling. The unfinished quality invites you to fill in the blanks, to imagine the sounds, the smells, the emotions of this mysterious night.