Two cows c. 1920

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing of two cows with dynamic strokes of charcoal on paper. I can imagine the act of drawing these cows – Kirchner’s hand moving quickly, trying to capture their essence with just a few lines. What was Kirchner thinking when he made this? I imagine he was interested in the formal aspects of the animals, their shapes, and how they occupy space. Look at the thickness of the charcoal lines, how they vary from thin, scratchy marks to bold, confident strokes. See how the lines describe the form of the cows but also create a sense of movement and energy, like a dance. There is a real sense of animal life here. And of course, Kirchner was part of a whole world of image-makers. He was inspired by others, and I’m sure someone else was inspired by him. That’s what art is – a big conversation that never ends. It's always changing, always becoming something new.