Girl Reading 1911

Lovis Corinth made this lithograph of a girl reading with crayon on paper. You know, sometimes the most interesting thing about a piece is how it shows the artist's process, right? Here, you can totally see Corinth figuring things out. Look at the lines around the girl – they're kind of scribbly and loose, not trying too hard to be perfect. The texture reminds me of charcoal, thick in some spots, faded in others. See how the lines create shadows and depth, especially around her face and the book? It's like Corinth is building the image right in front of us. It's like he’s having a conversation with the paper. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, the way she used a similar approach to capture emotion through simple gestures. Art’s just a big conversation, isn't it?