Two Bathing Girls in a Bathtub 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this ink drawing, titled "Two Bathing Girls in a Bathtub" during the early 20th century. The scene is intimate, yet rendered with the angular, jarring lines characteristic of German Expressionism. We might think about the cultural context in which Kirchner was working. Germany, at the time, was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to feelings of alienation and anxiety. The Expressionists sought to capture these emotions through their art. Kirchner and other Expressionist artists formed groups like "Die Brücke" or "The Bridge", which aimed to challenge academic traditions and explore new forms of artistic expression. Their work was often met with hostility from conservative art critics. Delving into archives and period publications can reveal the reception of his work at the time, and how it challenged conventional norms of representation, especially of the human body. Ultimately, the meaning of this drawing is contingent on the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.