Rosa Rosen 1917

Lovis Corinth made this painting, Rosa Rosen, with oil on canvas using luscious pinks and reds against a white ground. I can imagine Corinth, eyes fixed on the roses, dabbing and swirling the paint, trying to capture their fleeting beauty. What was he thinking? Maybe about the nature of beauty, the way it fades, or how painting is a way to hold onto a moment. See how the thick paint creates a tactile surface, almost like you could reach out and touch the petals? I am drawn to that gestural stroke of deep red that defines a rose right at the center. It’s like a tiny explosion of feeling. Each flower is built from many marks. Painting is a conversation, isn't it? Corinth might have been thinking about Manet or the Impressionists, but he brings his own raw, expressive touch. It’s a reminder that painting isn’t just about representation, it’s about feeling, about thinking, and about being in the world.