Sitzende Frau im Tub 1910 - 1913

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, Sitzende Frau im Tub, with ink on paper. I can imagine him, maybe a little bit manic, working fast. The ink is dark and the strokes are quick, capturing a figure in a moment of quiet contemplation. I wonder what he was thinking about, staring at this woman sitting in a tub? The lines create an intimate space, almost voyeuristic, but also tender. The texture of the paper, combined with the starkness of the ink, creates a raw, immediate impression. It reminds me of other expressionist painters like Egon Schiele, who also used line to convey emotion. Artists like Kirchner are in an ongoing dialogue across time, influencing and challenging each other’s visions. It’s never just about what's on the surface, but about the conversation that happens when we bring our own experiences to it.