Am Ufer (At the Riverbank) 1920

Max Pechstein made this print, Am Ufer, with etching, a technique that involves scratching lines into a metal plate and using acid to bite into the exposed lines. I can imagine Pechstein in his studio, a little bit stressed, trying to get the balance right, to bring to life the scene that plays out by the riverbank. The tonal variation is fantastic: areas where the ink is thick and dark, and others where it is sparse and light. I am drawn to the shapes of the figures, the linear, angular marks that create their bodies and the tree above them. The figures are arranged in a way that feels very modern and immediate. Pechstein was part of Die Brücke, a group of German Expressionist artists who wanted to create art that was authentic and emotionally charged. They admired artists like Edvard Munch, whose raw and emotive works captured the angst and uncertainty of modern life. There's something primal about the scene, with its figures existing in harmony with nature. It feels like a moment captured, one that makes you feel present.