Die Versuchung des heiligen Antonius (The Temptation of Saint Anthony) 1919

Lovis Corinth made this etching, The Temptation of Saint Anthony, in Germany around the turn of the twentieth century. Here, Corinth wrestles with the old trope of Saint Anthony and his tormentors, updating it for a modern age. Note the way Corinth uses an almost feverish line to surround Anthony with apparitions. This version of the story resonates with the artistic climate of its time: the work of Freud, Nietzsche and others challenged the social and artistic norms of Western Europe. The traditional religious subject matter is presented here in a subjective, psychologically charged manner. We can understand this work better by reading about the institutional shifts in the German art world at this time. New exhibition spaces and art movements were forming in opposition to the state-sponsored art academies. Corinth was among those artists who sought to challenge conventional tastes. Such challenges are part of the ongoing story of art.