Study of a Model 1916

Lovis Corinth made this study of a model using etching, where the image is carved into a metal plate, inked, and then printed on paper. This act of repetition means that the image is always slightly different, shifting, and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I sympathize with Corinth, imagining what it must have been like to stand in front of the model, charcoal in hand, trying to capture the curve of her back, the way the light falls on her shoulder. Look at the texture created by the cross-hatching, where the lines intersect to build up tone and shadow, almost like a sculptural relief. Notice how the scratching marks describe the form, almost like touch. The gesture of the woman, her hands raised to her head, speaks of vulnerability, but also strength. Corinth’s study is not just a record of a body, but a conversation with tradition, echoing Rembrandt and other masters of the nude. In his own way, he inspires creativity in others across time. Painting is a form of embodied expression, always open to new interpretations.