Railway in Dresden 1909

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this sketch of a railway in Dresden with charcoal on paper. It's amazing how quickly he captured the scene. You can feel the speed and energy, can’t you? Look at how the charcoal marks vary - some are thick and dark, really digging into the paper, while others are light and almost transparent. I find myself drawn to the bottom left corner where the charcoal lines are so heavy and dark they could almost be sculpted. It’s like he’s feeling the weight of the train tracks. These bold strokes contrast with the more delicate, almost tentative marks used to suggest the buildings in the background. Kirchner's willingness to let the drawing be unfinished, and open to interpretation is something I really admire. It reminds me of the expressionistic landscapes of Emil Nolde, who also captured a sense of raw emotion and immediacy in his work. Art is a conversation, after all.