Rückwärts gebeugter, weiblicher Akt 1919

This woodcut of a female nude was made by Lovis Corinth sometime around the early 20th century. Look at how the marks build up the form, as if the figure is emerging from the block itself, or maybe dissolving back into it. The process is really on display here. The stark contrast between black and white feels raw, immediate. You can almost feel the artist digging into the wood, wrestling with the material. See how the lines vary in thickness and direction, creating a sense of depth and movement, but also flattening the image? Take a look at the way the hatching suggests shadow, but also texture, like fur, or the play of light on water. Corinth reminds me of someone like Kirchner, both wrestling with form, and emotion, and what it means to be alive in a world that's constantly changing. Art isn't about answers, it's about embracing the questions, and the beautiful messiness of it all.