Birch Trees in the Tiergarten 1921

Lovis Corinth made this etching of Birch Trees in the Tiergarten, and I immediately imagine him outdoors, bundled up, in the cold, quickly capturing the light and shadow in the park. Look at those slashing, confident lines. The artist is using etching to try to fix a fleeting moment. The textures are so vivid, so palpable. I can almost feel the rough bark of the birch trees and the crispness of the air. See how the marks vary in thickness and direction, creating a sense of depth and movement. I feel like I'm walking in step with the artist, breathing in the earthy smells of the Tiergarten. The painting itself is a record of an action, a search, a kind of intuitive dance. And in the end, that’s what painting is all about, right? It's a conversation across time and space, artists building upon each other's discoveries. The painting embraces the uncertain, offering a space for us to bring our own experiences and interpretations.