We end the week with this beautiful painting of the artist's wife: Die Lesende (1911, private collection) by Lovis Corinth (1858-1925). Charlotte Berend-Corinth later said, "I didn't notice that Lovis was painting me. I was so absorbed in my book that I heard him set up the easel and sit down to paint, but I thought he was going to paint the flowers on the table next to the sofa. Then I immersed myself in my book again". We wish all our readers many equally happy reading moments over the festive period. The Post will return on 2nd January.