Mrs. Hedwig Berend 1923

Lovis Corinth made this drawing of Mrs. Hedwig Berend in 1923 using what looks like charcoal or graphite on paper, and you can really see the hand of the artist in it. It’s direct, immediate. The lines swarm and gather, becoming darker in some areas and lighter in others, to create the impression of form and volume. Look at the way the lines around her eyes and mouth deepen, giving her face character and depth. The texture of the paper also plays a role, with the tooth of the paper catching the charcoal and creating a kind of visual vibration. The marks are so alive, it’s like the drawing is breathing. It's raw and honest. This kind of directness reminds me of some of the portrait drawings of Käthe Kollwitz, who was also working in Germany at this time. There's a similar sense of empathy and humanity in their work, a willingness to confront the realities of life and to find beauty and meaning in the everyday. Ultimately, it’s that embrace of imperfection and ambiguity that makes it so compelling.