Wildboden Mountains Forest 1928

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, Wildboden Mountains Forest, with oil on canvas. Look at how he’s daubed the colours, the pinks and blues of the sky contrasting with the greens of the trees. It feels like the painting came into being through a process of trial and error, with the artist intuitively responding to the emerging forms and colours. I sympathise with Kirchner, imagining him standing before the canvas, brush in hand, trying to capture the essence of the forest. See how the paint is applied, thick in some areas and thin in others. That tree, right in the middle, a bright green, and the dark marks against the green create an impression of depth and texture. It feels like a bold and decisive gesture, communicating both an intensity of feeling and a clear artistic intention. Kirchner was part of a group of artists, called Die Brücke, or The Bridge. These artists were inspired by one another’s creativity. Painting is an ongoing conversation. There are multiple interpretations here; no definitive readings.