Artwork
Arno Holz
Arno Holz is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Lovis Corinth’s 1922 lithograph presents a black‑ink portrait of the German writer Arno Holz. Executed on laid paper, the image captures the subject in a direct, frontal pose, his short hair and collared shirt rendered with clear, decisive lines. Corinth’s signature appears at the lower edge, confirming authorship.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays Holz with a solemn expression, gazing straight at the viewer, suggesting a contemplative or intellectual presence befitting his literary reputation. By focusing on the writer’s face and attire, Corinth emphasizes the individual’s character rather than narrative context, aligning the portrait with early‑20th‑century interests in psychological depth.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the piece relies on the contrast of dense black ink against the textured surface of laid paper. Corinth employs bold contour lines and varied shading to model form, achieving a sense of volume and spatial depth. The monochrome approach reflects his post‑stroke shift toward more expressive, less color‑dependent methods.
History & Provenance
The lithograph was produced in 1922, a period when Corinth was integrating impressionistic and expressionistic tendencies after his 1911 stroke. While specific ownership records are limited, the work remains part of the artist’s print output that documents his engagement with portraiture alongside his broader contributions to modern German art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lovis Corinth was a German artist and writer whose mature work as a painter and printmaker realized a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism.
