Walchensee Landschaft 1922

Lovis Corinth made this watercolor painting, Walchensee landscape, with diluted washes of browns and blues to evoke a scenic view. You can almost feel the wetness of the brush on the paper, right? I imagine Corinth, the artist, outside, quickly capturing the scene as the clouds shifted. Look at the tree on the left – the paint is so thin you can see right through it. He probably used a big, soft brush to sweep the colors across the page, letting the water do its thing. Painters like Corinth remind us that painting isn't just about making a pretty picture. It’s a way of seeing, of feeling the world, and of trying to capture that feeling in something physical. Every artist builds on the work of those who came before, passing ideas back and forth across time. We are all in conversation with each other. Ultimately, painting embraces uncertainty, inviting endless interpretations and meaning.