View into a Cafe 1935

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this small, raw watercolor painting of a cafe scene. It feels like it was made quickly, maybe in one sitting, with very fluid washes of color. I really sympathize with Kirchner here. It's like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, or maybe a feeling, a vibe, as he sits alone in a busy cafe. What was he thinking? Who were these strange looking people? I see a lot of blue, so maybe he was a bit melancholy. But there are yellows and pinks, too, so maybe it was a night of intrigue and excitement. The thick, dark outlines are so expressive; they remind me of Matisse, and also recall some of the woodcut prints that Kirchner was making at the time. These bold lines and stark contrasts create a sense of immediacy, like a snapshot of a dream, or a fragmented memory. I love how painters are always responding to other artists, creating an ongoing conversation across time, always inspiring one another!