Der Ritter (The Knight) 1914

This is ‘The Knight’ by Lovis Corinth, etched in ink on paper. Can you imagine Corinth hunched over the plate, scratching out these figures with such heavy, forceful lines? I imagine he worked quickly, capturing a scene of power and vulnerability. Look at the knight’s expression, the set of his jaw. His moustache looks like he has teeth on his face. There's a lot of dark ink around the eyes. Is he protecting the nude figure, or is she trapped by him? It’s hard to tell, right? Corinth doesn't give us answers. Instead, it's a moment fraught with tension and drama. It’s a loaded scenario, reminiscent of earlier Expressionists like Munch and Ensor who wanted to put feeling above all else. Artists have always looked to one another for inspiration, for ways to push the boundaries of expression. And, like them, Corinth reminds us that art can be a site where ambiguity thrives, inviting us to question and feel, rather than simply to see.