Artwork
Reitpferd (Riding-Horse)
Reitpferd (Riding-Horse) 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, *Reitpferd* is a black‑ink lithograph on laid paper by German artist Lovis Corinth. The print captures a horse and its rider in swift motion, rendered with rapid, uneven lines that convey a sense of immediacy and kinetic energy.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on a galloping horse and a low‑seated rider, emphasizing the dynamism of movement. The blurred musculature of the animal and the tight grip on the reins suggest both the physical vigor of the scene and a momentary glimpse of the rider’s control.
Technique & Style
Corinth employed a scratchy, spontaneous drawing technique characteristic of his later lithographic work. The loose, unrefined lines, typical of a fast‑drawn approach, reflect his shift toward a blend of impressionistic fluidity and expressionist vigor that marked his post‑stroke period.
History & Provenance
A prominent figure in the Berlin Secession, Corinth assumed its presidency after Max Liebermann. Although initially resistant to expressionism, his own practice evolved to incorporate its expressive qualities, a transition evident in this 1916 print, produced during the final years of his career.
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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.
