Birch Trees in the Tiergarten 1921

Lovis Corinth made this etching, Birch Trees in the Tiergarten, sometime in his life. Look at the frantic energy of all those lines, like he was trying to capture the essence of the forest in one go. It's all about the process of looking, isn't it? The stark black and white creates an almost chaotic feel, but there's a method to the madness. Notice how the lines thicken and cluster to create depth, especially in the foreground. It's like Corinth is digging into the plate with his needle, trying to carve out the very soul of the trees. See that one dark patch, almost like a shadow lurking beneath the branches? It's unsettling, but also totally mesmerizing. For me, this piece feels like a nod to the German Expressionists, who were all about raw emotion. It makes me think of Käthe Kollwitz and her stark, powerful prints. Art's just one big conversation, right?