Cowshed 1912

Lovis Corinth made 'Cowshed' with oil paint, and looking at it, you can see how he builds the scene with these broad, gestural strokes, almost like he's sculpting with color. It's all about the process. The paint is thick, loaded onto the brush, creating a textured surface that catches the light. The colors are dark, earthy, with touches of yellow, giving it a kind of glow. Take a look at the top right, where the yellow daubs suggest light filtering through the structure, it is kind of chaotic, but the more you look, the more it comes together. It’s not a perfect depiction, but that's where the magic happens. Corinth, like many of his contemporaries, was clearly influenced by the Impressionists. But he brings a grittier, more visceral energy to it, making it entirely his own. Art isn't about answers, it's about the conversation.