Lovers 1909

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, "Lovers," with ink on paper way back in 1908. What strikes me right away is the economy of line, the way he’s able to suggest so much with just a few strokes. Look at the contour that defines the lovers’ bodies. It’s almost like a single, unbroken line that flows and loops and intersects, creating a sense of intimacy. The ink is applied with confidence, thick and dark in some areas, thin and almost translucent in others. There is very little shading to suggest the three-dimensionality of the bodies. Instead, Kirchner relies on the stark contrast between the black ink and the creamy yellow paper. There's something about this drawing, its raw energy and vulnerability, that reminds me of the work of Egon Schiele, another artist who wasn’t afraid to depict the human form with unflinching honesty. Both artists remind us that art doesn’t always have to be pretty, it can be messy, awkward, and even a little bit scary, just like life itself.