Hermann Struck, from the portfolio "Seven Etchings by Lovis Corinth" 1911

Curator: Lovis Corinth created this etching of Hermann Struck, included in a portfolio of seven etchings. The work is currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s immediately striking, isn’t it? That intense gaze, the hands clasped—it feels like a moment caught in time. Melancholy almost. Curator: Struck, also an etcher, is portrayed with a remarkable directness. Corinth uses the etching technique to capture both the physical likeness and perhaps something of the sitter's spirit. Consider the beard, a mark of artistic identity, wisdom. Editor: The looseness of the lines contributes so much; there's a kind of raw honesty. It's not just a portrait, but an emotional landscape—the man's presence rendered in ink and shadow. What was it like to be Hermann in that instant? Curator: It’s a powerful rendering that speaks to their shared profession, I wonder if it was a form of artistic respect. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a portrait, yes, but also a quiet story of camaraderie, etched in time.