Landscape at the Walchensee 1923

Editor: So this is Lovis Corinth's "Landscape at the Walchensee," painted in 1923 using oil paint. The impasto is so thick, it's almost sculptural! I'm struck by the somewhat gloomy, oppressive feeling it evokes. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: It's interesting that you pick up on that feeling. Consider the sociopolitical context of 1923 Germany. The Weimar Republic was in crisis: hyperinflation, political instability, and profound social unrest. How might that sense of anxiety and disillusionment have seeped into Corinth's landscape? Do you think this could be simply a representation of place? Editor: Hmm, so maybe the "gloomy" feeling isn't just a personal projection. The rough brushstrokes and dark palette do seem to mirror a sense of unease and a loss of idealism. But beyond that, does this landscape have any further connection to expressionist art practice at that time? Curator: Certainly. Look at the subjective experience conveyed through those distorted forms and heightened colours. Rather than a faithful depiction, it's an emotional landscape. Ask yourself, who had access to such serene landscapes in that climate of socioeconomic unrest and cultural trauma? Perhaps there are issues of class at play too, of privilege in the face of societal turbulence. Editor: So, it’s not *just* a landscape; it reflects the turmoil of the era, perhaps even commenting on who gets to retreat into nature during times of hardship. It encourages us to read beyond the surface beauty. Curator: Precisely. And in engaging with these social histories we can develop more nuanced appreciations for how we consume art in our present. Editor: Thanks. Now, seeing the landscape with all of these additional layers is really eye opening!