Who painted Am see (On a Lake)?

Am see (On a Lake) was painted by Lovis Corinth in 1917.

Where can I see Am see (On a Lake)?

Am see (On a Lake) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Am see (On a Lake)?

Am see (On a Lake) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Am see (On a Lake)

Lovis Corinth , 1917

Am see (On a Lake) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Lovis Corinth’s 1917 drypoint print *Am see* (On a Lake) presents a solitary figure seated beside a lake, framed by a distant bridge and a line of trees. Executed on laid paper, the image is rendered entirely in black, its stark lines defining both the human form and the surrounding landscape in a concise, gestural manner.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a woman turned away from the viewer, suggesting introspection or quiet observation of nature. The bridge spanning the water and the bordering trees create a sense of depth, while the figure’s posture implies a pause within a broader, tranquil environment, inviting contemplation of the relationship between individual and scenery.

Technique & Style

Corinth employed drypoint, incising the design directly into the paper’s surface with a sharp needle. The resulting burr produces rich, velvety black lines that contrast sharply with the paper’s light tone. The marks are loose and rapid, conveying an expressive immediacy that aligns with the artist’s post‑stroke shift toward a more emotive, less detailed visual language.

History & Provenance

Created during Corinth’s later period, the work reflects the stylistic transition that followed his 1911 stroke, which altered his approach to form and color. While the print’s early ownership records are limited, it remains associated with the artist’s Berlin Secession circle, where he was a prominent figure and advocate for modernist practices.

Context

Corinth’s career bridged Impressionism and Expressionism, shaped by studies in Paris and Munich before his leadership role in the Berlin Secession. *Am see* continues his long‑standing interest in landscape subjects, translating that preoccupation into the print medium at a time when his work increasingly emphasized emotional resonance over precise representation.