Weapons of Mars 1914

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Lovis Corinth’s print, "Weapons of Mars," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Woah, it’s…raw. Almost feverish. The figures are so present and immediate. Curator: Indeed. Corinth was known for his expressive use of line and form. Observe the dense hatching and cross-hatching which builds tone and volume. Consider also, the printmaking process itself. Editor: It feels like he attacked the plate! There’s such urgency. The way the light hits the central figure...sensual, vulnerable. Curator: The materiality of printmaking lends itself to that intensity. The tools, the pressure...the social context of a print being reproducible also meant it could reach a wider audience. Editor: It’s powerful stuff. I'm left pondering the cost of conflict, even in moments of apparent peace. Curator: Absolutely. A poignant reflection on the human condition, captured through the lens of material and process.