Nudes in a Meadow 1929

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made 'Nudes in a Meadow' with oil on canvas, but we don't know exactly when. You can almost feel Kirchner laying down these broad strokes of color, building the figures and the meadow with pure sensation. Looking at the nudes, they seem to come into being with the ground they are walking on! I wonder if Kirchner felt like he was conjuring them from the earth. He's a master of color and knows how to use it to create depth, emotion, and even tension. The green feels thick, almost obscuring the dark background. I love the way the figures are so present and yet anonymous; the lack of detail adds to the overall sense of mystery. The brushstrokes are visible, reminding us of the artist's hand. Like Picasso, Kirchner was deeply engaged with modern life, so I imagine that the 'Nudes in a Meadow' painting is a meditation on form and freedom, and how to find them in the world. It is through works like these that artists share ideas and keep the conversation of painting going.