Thorwald Stang I 1912

Curator: Edvard Munch's portrait, "Thorwald Stang I," a lithograph held at Harvard, presents a compelling study in contrasts. The stark lines create an almost palpable tension. What's your immediate take? Editor: Unease. He looks trapped, doesn’t he? Like he's peering out from behind bars, or maybe just a very, very troubled mind. The raw quality really gets under your skin. Curator: Indeed. Munch's use of lithography here is fascinating. The density of the blacks and the deliberate scratching away at the stone contribute to that sense of unease you mentioned. It accentuates the planes of his face, imbuing it with a structural severity. Editor: It's almost confrontational, that stare. But vulnerable too. Like he's daring you to look away, while simultaneously begging you to understand. Curator: The interplay between vulnerability and defiance certainly underscores Munch’s broader exploration of human psychology. Editor: You know, looking at it again, there’s a strange beauty in that raw honesty. Curator: Precisely, it's a beauty born of truth.