Absalom hanged from the branch of a tree (II Samuel 18:9-10) 1923

Curator: Lovis Corinth, the artist, he really captured the grimness in this rendering of Absalom, hanged from the tree. What strikes you first? Editor: The sheer desperation! It's palpable, like the charcoal is screaming. It feels unfinished but that’s the point, right? He’s suspended, caught. Curator: Precisely. This work depicts the biblical scene from Samuel, where Absalom's hair gets caught during his escape, leading to his capture. The rough strokes, the dramatic contrast... Editor: It’s like Corinth is saying, “Here’s the horror, raw and untamed.” The composition itself, the dark figure against the pale ground, is stark, almost brutal. Curator: The unfinished quality lends itself to the tragedy, and the quick strokes suggest the suddenness of the event. It's interesting how much emotional weight Corinth puts into such a small work. Editor: Absolutely. And it is that incompleteness that stays with you, isn’t it? Like a question left unanswered. The horror of the story lingers. Curator: It certainly does. Corinth masterfully leaves us with that haunting echo.