Paar in Interieur 1917

Gabriele Munter made this striking painting, Paar in Interieur, with bold lines and stark contrasts, probably pretty fast. The red wall practically vibrates against the white doorway and the dark figures. I love how Munter simplifies everything down to these essential shapes and colors. I imagine her standing there, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the mood more than the details. What was she thinking, though? Is this a tense moment, a negotiation, or just a casual exchange? That outstretched hand—is it an invitation or a warning? There’s a wonderful flatness to the whole thing, like a stage set. It reminds me a little of early German Expressionist prints, that same feeling of raw emotion and simplified forms. But you know, painters are always looking at each other’s work, riffing on ideas, pushing things further. And it’s that conversation, that back-and-forth across time, that keeps painting alive. It makes me want to run into the studio and start pushing some paint around myself!