Sitzende Frau im Tub 1910 - 1913

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing of a seated woman in a tub with ink on paper. You can see the directness, the speed of his hand. It’s all about capturing a feeling, an impression, rather than getting bogged down in details. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving a sense of immediacy. The ink varies from watery grays to intense blacks, creating depth and shadow. There's a frenzy of marks, especially around her legs, like he’s trying to trap her in the act of sitting. I love how he uses these scribbled lines to build form and volume. Kirchner reminds me of Egon Schiele, another master of raw, expressive line work. Both artists share a willingness to embrace the messy, the imperfect, the unresolved. Art isn't about answers. It's about the questions.