Road in the Taunus c. 1916

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, Road in the Taunus, with graphite on paper, and it feels like he was really feeling the landscape. Look at the speed of those lines! They capture the upward thrust of the trees, almost like flames. I can imagine him standing there, maybe a little anxious, trying to capture not just what he saw but how it felt to be there, in that place. The lines are raw and urgent, they don't want to linger, right? You can see him thinking about Van Gogh, for sure. He also wants to get to the essence of the natural scene before him, and its emotional effect. It’s like he’s having a conversation with the paper, each stroke answering the one before, building up this vibrant, energetic view. Kirchner had a way of making you feel the world through his eyes, and this drawing is no exception, it's pure feeling.