Drei Kleine Mädchen 1902

Lovis Corinth made this painting of three little girls with oil on canvas. Look at the brushwork, it's free and expressive. The paint isn't too thick but I can see how Corinth uses it to model the form of each girl. I think he's trying to capture a certain light, and the texture of the girls' dresses. I wonder what it was like to be Corinth, painting these three kids, trying to find a way to capture their image. His process is one of inquiry, almost like he's talking to them. He’s right there in front of them trying to work it all out. There's an awkwardness to the girls' poses that reminds me of other painters interested in the human figure. He seems to be having a conversation with painters like Manet and Degas. Painters are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.