Boy Wearing Bathing-Trunks and Straw Hat 1915

Lovis Corinth made this etching, Boy Wearing Bathing-Trunks and Straw Hat, using a process that's all about lines, a bit like doodling with acid! The whole image feels like a quick sketch, maybe done on a sunny afternoon. Look at the way Corinth uses lines to suggest the boy’s form and the playful cats surrounding him. There’s a lightness and freedom in the marks, as if he’s capturing a fleeting moment. The lines aren’t precious; they overlap and intersect, creating a sense of movement and energy. The boy's face is so expressive, rendered with just a few strokes. It reminds me of some of Picasso’s line drawings - simple, but full of life! Art is always about seeing what others have done and riffing on it. There’s no right answer, just different ways of looking.