Two Nudes in a Room 1914

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, "Two Nudes in a Room", with oil on canvas. Look at how he’s built up the figures from brushy strokes and how the outlines aren't clearly defined, giving it a real sense of movement. It’s like he’s finding the form as he goes, a process of discovery right there on the canvas! Check out the colour around the nudes; Kirchner uses these strange blues and greens in the background which contrast against the fleshy pinks of the figures, making them almost jump out at you. Then there's the black cat, all tucked away in the corner like a secret. It’s this tension between raw expression and careful composition that I find so engaging. I'm reminded of Emil Nolde in the way he uses colour and explores raw emotion, but Kirchner has his own distinct style. His art isn't about perfection; it’s about capturing a moment, an emotion, a fleeting glimpse of life.