A direct and expressive portrait by Lovis Corinth, featuring bold brushwork and a focus on the psychological presence of the sitter.

This portrait, executed by Lovis Corinth in April 1911, captures a subject with the directness and painterly vigour characteristic of his later period. Corinth, a central figure in the transition from academic realism to the expressive styles of the early twentieth century, employs a confident, gestural brushwork that prioritises the psychological presence of the sitter over meticulous detail. The subject is depicted in a dark, textured garment, her gaze meeting the viewer with a sense of weary introspection.

The background is rendered in muted, earthy tones, providing a neutral field that allows the figure to emerge with physical weight. Corinth uses a restricted palette, relying on the interplay between the deep blacks of the clothing and the warmer, flesh-toned highlights of the face and hands. The application of paint is visible and unrefined, reflecting the artist's focus on the act of painting itself. This work demonstrates his ability to convey character through economy of form and a deliberate, almost aggressive, handling of the medium.

Corinth's approach to portraiture during this era often involved a rapid, spontaneous execution, a method that allowed him to capture a specific moment of observation. The composition is straightforward, focusing on the sitter's posture and the subtle tension in her hands. By avoiding unnecessary ornamentation, the artist directs attention to the facial features, which are modelled with a combination of soft blending and sharp, decisive strokes. This piece provides an insight into the stylistic shift occurring within German art at the time, moving away from the polished surfaces of the nineteenth century toward a more subjective and emotive mode of representation.