Trimalchio's Funeral - Lovis Corinth

A dynamic and expressive etching by Lovis Corinth, depicting the satirical funeral scene of the Roman character Trimalchio.

This drypoint and etching by Lovis Corinth captures a scene from the Satyricon, the Roman satirical work attributed to Petronius. The subject is the elaborate, mock funeral of the nouveau-riche character Trimalchio, who famously staged his own death to observe the reactions of his guests. Corinth, a central figure in the transition from Impressionism to Expressionism in Germany, employs a frantic, gestural line quality that conveys the chaotic and grotesque nature of the event.

The composition is crowded and energetic. Figures surround the central, reclining protagonist, who appears with a grin that suggests the absurdity of the performance. The musicians and mourners are rendered with rapid, scratchy marks, typical of Corinth's late graphic work. The artist often returned to classical and literary themes, reinterpreting them through a lens of psychological intensity and physical distortion. By 1919, Corinth's style had moved away from the academic precision of his earlier years, favouring a raw, immediate approach that prioritised emotional impact over anatomical accuracy.

This print demonstrates the artist's mastery of the etching needle, where the pressure and speed of the stroke dictate the weight of the line. The lack of shading or tonal depth forces the viewer to focus on the movement and the expressions of the figures. It is a study in excess and vanity, themes that Corinth explored frequently during the latter part of his career. The work reflects the artist's interest in the darker, more satirical aspects of human behaviour, presented with a sense of urgency that is characteristic of his post-war output. The signature at the bottom right confirms the authenticity of this impression, which remains a fine example of early twentieth-century German printmaking.