Mountain Forest 1920

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, Mountain Forest, with oil on canvas. The way he puts the paint on, with those big, confident strokes, it’s like he’s wrestling with the landscape, not just copying it. Look at how the greens and blues fight each other, making the forest feel alive, almost breathing. The paint is thick, juicy, you can practically feel the texture of the trees and the ground. See that slash of white on the tree trunk? It's so simple, but it gives the whole painting a jolt, a spark. It’s like Kirchner is saying, “Here, I’m not just showing you a forest; I’m showing you how I *feel* it.” Kirchner's bold approach reminds me a bit of Van Gogh, both unafraid to pour their emotions onto the canvas. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what it all means.