The Sacrifice of Isaac 1920

Lovis Corinth made 'The Sacrifice of Isaac' using etching on paper. I imagine Corinth working quickly and decisively, layering thin strokes to build a scene thick with suspense. See how he creates the figures, and the angel by building up marks? It’s almost as if the forms emerge from the shadows. What does the artist want us to feel? I sympathize with artists tackling these huge, universal themes. Corinth is in conversation with Rembrandt, maybe, but also grappling with ideas of faith and sacrifice. A gesture like that of Abraham’s raised arm, arrested in mid-air, communicates the inner turmoil. It reminds me of similar gestures in the work of other painters, like Goya, who use expressive body language to convey intense emotion. It’s like they're saying, 'I can feel what it's like to be here.' Corinth invites us into an ongoing dialogue about the human condition. He leaves room for doubt and questioning, and in a way, the ambiguity gives the image more power.