Badende am Strand einer Bucht auf Fehmarn c. 1913

Editor: This is "Bathers on the Beach of a Bay on Fehmarn," a c. 1913 ink drawing by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, currently held at the Städel Museum. It strikes me as very raw, almost unfinished, yet there’s an undeniable energy in the lines. What catches your eye about this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the deliberate starkness of the composition. Notice how Kirchner utilizes the line, not for representational accuracy, but for expressive potential. The varying thickness and frenetic quality of the lines creates a palpable tension. The foreground figures are rendered with a certain intimacy, in contrast to the almost stick-like figures further back. Does this contrast suggest anything to you regarding the psychological space of the bathers? Editor: Maybe it shows the figures are more engaged and carefree. I see how you interpret the line quality as more than just representational, but as conveying an emotional quality. It's not a pretty landscape. Curator: Precisely. Consider the negative space, how it contributes to the overall feeling of unease. Kirchner wasn’t after capturing a pleasant scene; rather he used form to create a powerful sensory experience. Also, reflect on how this aesthetic links to Kirchner's expressionistic movement. Editor: It almost feels like he is trying to show how modern life feels with how hectic all the marks are and not how modern life looks with realistic techniques. This was quite revealing to see past the drawing as just an image. Curator: Agreed, considering form, space and line offers unique avenues to unpack an image and deepen our perspective.