Seated Girl, 1928

Franz Lerch (1895–1977) takes us into a nondescript room with a partial view through a window in this painting. A young lady is sitting on a table, holding in her right hand a small rectangular object that captivates her interest. Calm and focused, she is absorbed in looking at it. It is solely the lighting that brings some life to the dispassionate scene. The red and orange dress basked in bright warm light and the pattern of shadows on the tablecloth look like melting in the heat. This is contrasted by the cooling effect of nuanced shades of gray and blue on the walls. Lerch’s work evolved in the tension between Expressionism and New Objectivity. Despite its austerity and formal rigor, the painterly execution gives the composition a breath of organic vividness.

AK, 2021