Artwork
Odysseus und die Freier (Odysseus and the Suitor)
Odysseus und die Freier (Odysseus and the Suitor) 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
Lovis Corinth's 1914 drypoint print, 'Odysseus and the Suitors,' is a dynamic work on laid paper, executed in black ink. It showcases the artist's expressive style, developed through his training in Paris and Munich and his later leadership of the Berlin Secession.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates a pivotal scene from Homer's 'Odyssey,' where Odysseus confronts the suitors vying for his wife Penelope's hand during his absence. The depicted moment is one of tension and action.
Technique & Style
Corinth employed rapid, sketchy drypoint strokes to convey the muscular figure's movement and energy. The rough, expressive lines effectively capture the dynamic pose, with dark ink contrasting against the light paper to heighten the sense of motion.
Context
Created in 1914, the work reflects Corinth's post-1911 style, which synthesized elements of impressionism and expressionism following a stroke that impacted his artistic approach.
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.
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