Bacchanal
1914
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1914
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Bacchanal is a 1914 ink by Lovis Corinth, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a group of people dancing in a wild, tangled forest. The trees and bushes are drawn with quick, messy lines, almost like scribbles. Some figures are mid-motion, their arms raised, while others lean or crouch. The background blends into a cloudy sky, making everything feel dreamy and slightly blurred. The artist used a drypoint tool—think of it like scratching directly into the paper—to create the lines. This method leaves a unique, slightly fuzzy texture that makes the scene feel alive and spontaneous. Next, check out Corinth, Lovis to see how this artist used loose lines in other works.
