from Saul and David [unrecorded in Muller] 1923

Editor: This is Lovis Corinth's "from Saul and David," housed at Harvard Art Museums. It's a chaotic charcoal drawing on paper, and I find it quite unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see the weight of history, quite literally. Corinth, working amidst immense social and political upheaval in Germany, often grappled with biblical themes to explore power, conflict, and the human condition. Consider how this drawing, likely a study, engages with the long tradition of representing Saul and David, and asks us to question the narratives we inherit. Does this challenge your initial reaction? Editor: It does. I was focusing on the artistic style, but the historical context adds a whole other layer of meaning. I now see the chaos reflecting the societal turmoil. Curator: Precisely! And that tension is exactly what makes art so compelling, isn't it? Editor: It really is. Thanks for pointing that out!