Moonlight II 1901

Editor: This is Edvard Munch's "Moonlight II," a woodcut at the Harvard Art Museums. There’s a really haunting atmosphere, with this almost ghostly figure. What symbols jump out at you in this piece? Curator: The stark face, surrounded by darkness, it pulls at something primal. Munch is digging into collective anxieties here. Notice the window. Is it a symbol of hope, or does it frame the figure, trapping them further? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the window that way. So the image isn't just about individual pain but something shared? Curator: Precisely. It's about how society imprints on our inner lives, shaping our fears, our sense of isolation. That stark woodcut style amplifies the emotional weight. Editor: I see it now, that resonance. Thanks, that’s really deepened my understanding. Curator: Indeed, recognizing these visual cues helps us connect across time and cultures.