Weissagung (Prophecy)

The print depicts an intimate encounter: a relaxed woman lies with her arms at her sides and legs gently bent, while a man in a simple tunic hovers over her, his raised right hand suggesting an imminent gesture. The title “Prophecy” invites speculation about a narrative or symbolic reading, perhaps alluding to a moment of revelation or foretelling within the depicted scene.

Corinth employed the drypoint method, incising lines directly into the surface of laid paper and printing them in deep black. The resulting image relies on bold, expressive lines and minimal shading, creating a stark contrast that emphasizes form over detail. A restrained palette of black and subtle brown tones underscores the work’s graphic intensity.

Created shortly after Corinth’s 1911 stroke, *Weissagung* reflects the artist’s shift toward a more expressionist approach, merging his earlier naturalist training with heightened emotional line work. The print entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s early‑20th‑century German print collection.

By 1914, Corinth had become a leading figure in the Berlin Secession, advocating for artistic independence from academic conventions. His work from this period often blended impressionistic light effects with expressionist vigor, a synthesis evident in the stark, gestural quality of this drypoint.