Artwork
The Piggery
The Piggery is an oil painting by the German Expressionist artist Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1912 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Lovis Corinth’s 1912 oil work titled The Piggery depicts a rustic outdoor setting where several pigs recline on a muddy ground. The composition is anchored by a low horizon, allowing the surrounding foliage and trees to frame the animal group, while the muted palette of browns, greens, and yellows conveys a quiet, agrarian atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a straightforward genre scene of farm life, focusing on the pigs as the central figures. Their relaxed postures and the soft, earthen ground suggest a moment of rest after labor, evoking themes of domestic tranquility and the simple pleasures of rural existence.
Technique & Style
Corinth employs loose, expressive brushwork that animates the surface, especially in the rendering of mud and foliage. The oil medium allows for layered color washes, creating depth in the earthy tones. The gestural handling of paint imparts a sense of movement despite the static subject, characteristic of Corinth’s late Impressionist‑influenced approach.
History & Provenance
Created in 1912, The Piggery entered the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it remains on display. The work reflects Corinth’s continued interest in everyday subjects during the final decade of his career, shortly before his death in 1925.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lovis Corinth (21 July 1858 – 17 July 1925) was a German artist and writer whose mature work as a painter and printmaker realized a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism.
