Cows Grazing in the Moonlight
1919
Created in 1919 by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, this scratchy, energetic scene shows cows grazing under a moon that looks like a hurried scribble. Kirchner was a key figure in German Expressionism, a movement that cared more about raw feelings than looking 'real.' He made this while recovering from a nervous breakdown in the Swiss Alps, using art to process his trauma from World War I. The frantic, jagged lines make this quiet night scene feel surprisingly intense, as if the animals are trembling with nervous energy.
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