Description
The painting "in the slaughterhouse" of Lovis Corinth, carried out in 1893, is a work that resonates with the intense emotional energy characteristic of the artist and reflects not only its technical mastery, but also its ability to address gloomy and provocative issues of human existence . Corinth, a member of the expressionist movement, uses the slaughterhouse scene as a scenario to explore the brutality of everyday life through a visceral and intense approach that leaves no one indifferent.
From the first glance, the composition is presented as a whirlwind of movement and activity. The characters that populate the canvas, although they are not treated in detail, are shown in a frantic state of action, with broad gestures and postures that suggest a physical and moral struggle. The atmosphere feels loaded, almost oppressive. There is an organized sense of chaos, where life and death coexist in the same space, symbolizing the duality of existence. Miguel Ángel, a master From the Renaissance, he may have inspired Corinth in his treatment of human figures, but in "in the slaughterhouse", the artist moves away from the idealization to pay tribute to the harsh reality of life.
The color palette of the work is another of its most shocking characteristics. Corinth opts for dark and terrible tones that predominate in the scene, with red splaps that immediately evoke the blood and violence of the slaughterhouse. These colors not only underline the intrinsic cruelty of the act of killing, but also serve to create a dramatic contrast with the clearest areas of the background, where the roofs and structures of the space are perceived, causing the scene to highlight even more with its tone grotesque. The light is strategically used to delineate the figures and accentuate the tension, guiding the viewer's gaze towards the foci of action and conflict.
The use of the brushstroke is remarkable and dynamic. Corinth applies a loose technique, often with thick brushes and determined touches that give the surface a sense of living texture. This style, which can be understood as a response to modernity, infuses a sense of immediacy and emotion to the work. When observing the work, one can reconceptualize the day -to -day experience in a different light, making it almost epic in its arrobo and its brutality.
It is worth noting that Lovis Corinth, throughout his career, constantly challenged the conventions of the established art of his time. Influenced by the tradition of realism and impressionism, his work later lined up with expressionism, making him a bridge between these movements. Works such as "in the slaughterhouse" are not only a reflection of their individual ability as a painter, but also a social comment on the disconnection of urban life regarding the realities of work and subsistence.
While "in the slaughterhouse" it may not be Corinth's best known work, its value lies in its ability to invoke the reflection and emotion of the viewer, asking questions about the cycle of life and death, as well as the inherent morality to the battle for survival. In his approach to the grotesque, the painter forces us to confront our own place in this cycle, which makes it a fundamental piece not only to understand Corinth's individual path, but also to understand the broadest context of modern art that It began to emerge at the end of the 19th century.
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