King David Sings to the Lord (II Samuel 22) 1923

Curator: Lovis Corinth gifts us "King David Sings to the Lord," held at the Harvard Art Museums. There's no date listed, but Corinth lived from 1858 to 1925. Editor: My first impression is somber. The charcoal rendering seems to weigh down the figure, giving him a palpable sense of burden. Curator: I agree. You know, I've always felt David's story is one of divine favor intertwined with profound human struggle. Corinth really captures that duality with the dark strokes contrasted against the white of the paper. Editor: Absolutely. And consider the harp, almost an extension of David himself. The vertical lines, so rigidly placed, are a kind of structural lament. It's a masterful use of formalism to evoke emotion. Curator: Yes, it gives me the sense that even in praise, there's a recognition of life's hardships. The song, like the charcoal, is raw and unfiltered. Editor: It really underscores how formalism, at its best, reveals the soul of a piece, not just its surface. Curator: And the soul of the artist. I think Corinth understood David's turmoil, and somehow, put it on paper. Editor: A truly moving visual interpretation.