“Woman by a Goldfish Tank”
“Woman by a Goldfish Tank” or “Woman Reading Near Goldfish Tank” is an oil on canvas painting by the German artist, Lovis Corinth, from 1911. Though he bridged the gap between Impressionism and Expressionism, Corinth is mostly remembered for his association with the German Expressionist art movement.
In this painting, Corinth lovingly depicts his wife, Charlotte, at their apartment on Klopstockstrasse in Berlin. She is reading a book in the light from a bay window. The room is decorated as a winter garden, with plants and a fish tank to add more life to the space. This piece was done in the impressionist style, which Corinth was exposed to during his time in Paris. It took him four days to complete this painting.
In 1902, Corinth moved to Berlin and opened a painting school for women. It was there that he met his wife. She was his first student and was 20 years his junior. She quickly became his muse and remained as such for the rest of his life. After their marriage, the theme of Corinth’s works changed to focus more on domestic and family life, such as in this piece here.
“Woman by a Goldfish Tank” is currently in the collections of the Upper Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria.
For more on Lovis Corinth, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
