The Walchensee in the Moonlight 1920

Lovis Corinth made "The Walchensee in the Moonlight" with oil paint, probably alla prima. Can you imagine standing where Corinth stood, brush in hand, trying to get down what your eyes are seeing? The dominant colours are greens and blues with flicks of white and gold that together almost vibrate. The paint is applied in thick strokes, especially in the sky and hills, giving the canvas a real sense of texture and depth. There’s a palpable energy, an almost frantic rhythm in the brushstrokes. It's like Corinth was in a hurry to capture the scene, maybe before the light shifted. The way he built up the image with short strokes reminds me of other painters like Courbet or Soutine, artists who were obsessed with the physicality of paint. It’s a lineage, a visual conversation across time.