The Tent 1914

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this painting, The Tent, with oil on canvas; it’s now here in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich. Looking at this picture, I’m immediately struck by the intensity of the colors and the bold brushstrokes. The painting feels raw, like the artist was working quickly, trying to capture a fleeting moment. The texture is rough and uneven, and the colors are applied in thick layers, creating a sense of depth and dimension. Look at the way Kirchner uses color to create a sense of unease and tension. The green skin of the figure on the right is particularly striking, and it creates a feeling of otherness or alienation. The way the red coat clashes with the green skin is also really disturbing, but fascinating. Kirchner was part of the Expressionist movement, and you can definitely see that influence in this painting. Like Munch, he was interested in exploring the darker side of human nature, but did it in a way that feels uniquely modern.