Artwork
Modellstudie (Study of a Model)
Modellstudie (Study of a Model) is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916, *Modellstudie (Study of a Model)* is a black drypoint print on laid paper by German artist Lovis Corinth.
Created in 1916, *Modellstudie (Study of a Model)* is a black drypoint print on laid paper by German artist Lovis Corinth. The work belongs to a period when Corinth was shifting from naturalistic representation toward a blend of impressionist and expressionist concerns, a transition intensified after his 1911 stroke. The piece exemplifies his ongoing interest in the human figure and the immediacy of drawing.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a standing nude figure with an arm raised, clutching a slender pole, while a second, partially obscured figure sits on a chair in the background. The loose, sketch‑like lines suggest a study rather than a finished narrative, emphasizing the artist’s exploration of posture, gesture, and the interaction between two bodies within a simple spatial setting.
Technique & Style
Corinth employed drypoint, incising lines directly into a metal plate so that the burr created by the tool retains ink and yields rich, textured strokes on paper. The resulting marks are irregular and tactile, conveying a sense of immediacy and nervous energy. This method aligns with Corinth’s broader move toward expressive line work, merging observational accuracy with a more subjective, gestural approach.
History & Provenance
Lovis Corinth, trained in Paris and Munich, later headed the Berlin Secession after joining the group. *Modellstudie* originates from his post‑stroke period, when his palette and handling became more forceful. The print has remained within the artist’s estate and has been exhibited in surveys of early‑20th‑century German printmaking, illustrating his contribution to the medium during a pivotal phase of his career.
Own this work as a print
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.
Interieur mit Stehlampe (Interior with Floor Lamp)
Nude Woman Standing, Drying Herself (Femme nue debout, a sa toilette)
Stehende Weibliche akte (Standing Female Nude)
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
The Feathered Turban (Le turban à aigrette)
Nude Woman Standing, Drying Herself (Femme nue debout, a sa toilette)
Nude Woman Standing, Drying Herself
Volupte, Fantome Elastique! (Pleasure, elastic phantom!)
Morning, Nude on Bed, Second Stone
Untitled
Nude with Her Arms Raised (Le modèle nue les bras levés)
Femme nue vue de dos (Nude Woman Seen from the Back)