Blaffende hond 1913

Editor: So, this is Lovis Corinth’s “Blaffende Hond,” or "Barking Dog", an etching from 1913 currently at the Rijksmuseum. The frantic energy really jumps out, the scratchy lines creating such a sense of unease. What do you see in it? Curator: You know, it’s interesting you pick up on the energy. To me, Corinth has really bottled raw, unbridled emotion into this tiny frame. Think about it - an etching of a dog, a domestic animal, but rendered with such ferocious strokes. The ‘Cave Canem’ – Beware of the Dog – inscription isn’t just a warning; it’s almost a proclamation of inner turmoil. Don't you think? Editor: I didn't catch the inscription at first! It's like he's warning us about something more than just a guard dog. It almost feels symbolic… a warning about something within himself perhaps? Curator: Precisely! This period for Corinth was rife with personal and artistic struggle. He had a stroke a few years before, and it drastically altered his process and perspective. Do you feel any echoes of German Expressionism's interest in emotional intensity in this work? Editor: Definitely. The distorted form and the frenzied lines mirror the Expressionist focus on subjective experience. It is quite raw and personal. I see the 'Blaffende Hond' is more than just a barking dog. Curator: Yes, Corinth seems to capture the emotional distress, doesn’t he? It’s almost as though this barking dog is Corinth’s artistic growl, echoing out across the decades. Food for thought, don’t you agree? Editor: I certainly do. I am going to think about this dog for quite some time. Thank you.