Two Figures 

Lovis Corinth sketched these figures using graphite on paper, but the exact date and location are not recorded. We can, however, observe that the image captures two figures in what appears to be a moment of leisure or repose. The woman's attire, including her hat and cloak, suggests a certain social status, while the reclining figure adds an element of narrative ambiguity. Was this drawn in Germany? Was it some other part of Europe, or the United States? The answer depends on further examination of the cultural context of the image. Corinth was part of the artistic milieu of late 19th and early 20th century Europe, and it is important to consider his relationship to institutions and cultural movements of that time. Did the figures break away from the artistic norms of their time? Or did they reinforce traditional social values? To answer these questions, art historians draw upon a range of resources, including artist's biographies, social histories, and institutional records. The meaning of art is always shaped by its social and institutional context.