Adriaan Korteweg - Laokoon - 1914

 

Adriaan Korteweg's "Laokoon" is a visceral and emotionally charged interpretation of the classical myth. Departing from traditional representations, Korteweg employs an Expressionist idiom to convey the agony and struggle of Laokoon and his sons as they are attacked by the sea serpents. The figures are distorted and intertwined, their bodies rendered with jagged lines and angular forms that emphasize their suffering. The color palette is somber and muted, dominated by grays, browns, and blacks, creating an atmosphere of despair and claustrophobia. Korteweg's "Laokoon" is not merely a retelling of the myth but a powerful exploration of human vulnerability and the struggle against overwhelming forces. The painting's raw emotionality and dynamic composition make it a compelling example of early 20th-century Expressionism.

Source: Lenbachhaus