Dancers and Performers (Page from a Sketchbook) c. 1911

This page from a sketchbook by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner shows dancers and performers sketched in pencil. What strikes me about Kirchner's process here is how immediate it feels. The lines are searching, quick, capturing the essence of movement, the way a dancer might briefly pause in a pose. The pencil marks are light and airy, almost like he's trying to catch a fleeting thought. You can see how the lines build up, layer upon layer, creating a sense of depth and energy. I'm drawn to the cluster of marks in the bottom right corner. It’s like a little explosion of energy, a tangle of limbs and fabric. It reminds me that artmaking is about discovery, about embracing the unexpected and letting the process guide you. I can't help but think of Degas and his pastels of dancers when I see this. Like Degas, Kirchner is capturing a sense of fleeting beauty, but with a rawer, more expressionistic edge. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, building on the past while forging new paths.