Lady at the goldfish basin 1911

Lovis Corinth made this painting, “Lady at the Goldfish Basin”, with expressive brushstrokes of oil paint, a medium historically associated with high art. The loose handling of the paint gives an impressionistic feel, yet there's a clear interest in the material qualities of the scene. Notice the textures – the soft fabric of the woman’s dress, the slick glass of the fish tank, the feathery leaves of the plants. The scene is domestic and speaks to a certain level of affluence, evident in the upholstered furniture, the abundance of plants, and of course, the goldfish tank itself, a manufactured object for leisure. The painting seems to acknowledge the labor involved in maintaining this lifestyle. While the woman is relaxed, reading, there’s an implication of work behind the scenes, the unseen labor that enables this moment of tranquility. Corinth’s painting is a reminder that even in the most serene of scenes, the traces of production and consumption are always present, challenging us to consider the social context in which art, and life, are created.