Artwork
Bacchanal
Bacchanal is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bacchanal is a 1914 drypoint print by Lovis Corinth, a German artist known for his work in painting and printmaking. The print is executed in black on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a group of figures dancing in a forest, their movements captured in a state of dynamic energy. The scene is characterized by a sense of wild abandon, with trees and figures intertwined in a tangled, dreamlike atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Corinth employed the drypoint technique, scratching directly into the plate to create a distinctive, textured line. The resulting image is marked by loose, expressive lines and a blurred, atmospheric quality, reflecting Corinth's mature style, which synthesized elements of impressionism and expressionism.
Context
Created in 1914, Bacchanal reflects Corinth's post-stroke style, which became looser and more vibrant after a 1911 stroke. This shift was part of a broader evolution in his work, as he moved away from naturalism and toward a more expressive, dynamic approach to figuration and composition.
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.
