Aus Dem Tiergarten (From the Tiergarten)

Art Historical Context

Lovis Corinth's *Aus Dem TiergartenFrom the Tiergarten, created in 1920, the essence of Berlin's expansive Tiergarten park during the early Weimar Republic. As a leading figure in German Expressionism and a founder of the Berlin Secession Corinth had shifted from Impressionist influences to bolder, more emotive styles by this late stage in his career. Having suffered a stroke in 1911, he turned increasingly to printmaking, producing works that reflected his direct, vigorous observation of urban nature amid post-World War I recovery. This drypoint etching on wove paper exemplifies Corinth's mastery of intaglio techniques. Unlike etching, drypoint involves scratching directly into the copper plate with a sharp tool, raising a soft burr that yields rich, velvety lines and textured depth—ideal for conveying the park's leafy foliage and atmospheric light. The plate measures 25 × 32 cm, with generous sheet margins enhancing its intimate scale, inviting close viewing. Now housed in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from Ruth Cole Kainen, this print offers a poignant glimpse into Corinth's final productive years (he died in 1925). It bridges personal resilience with the cultural vibrancy of interwar Berlin, reminding visitors of art's power to find beauty in everyday landscapes.

About the Artist

Lovis Corinth · 1858–1925

Lovis Corinth, born Franz Heinrich Louis on July 21, 1858, in Tapiau, East Prussia (now Gvardeysk, Russia), to a tanner father, displayed prodigious drawing talent from childhood. He began formal training at the Königsberg Academy in 1876, then moved to the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich from 1880 to 1884, studying under Ludwig von Löfftz and briefly Franz von Defregger, where he absorbed a Realis...