The Artist and His Model 1921

Edvard Munch made “The Artist and His Model” with oil on canvas, but there's no date for it. Look at those brushstrokes, right? They're not trying to hide anything. I see the way Munch builds up the image, layer by layer. He’s really interested in the physical process of artmaking, and not afraid to show it. The materiality is on full display here. Check out the way the blue of the model’s robe smears into the white of her dress. It’s like a raw, emotional experience is happening right there on the canvas. The paint is not precious, it’s like he just grabbed it and went for it. That directness, the way you can almost feel Munch's hand moving, makes it feel so intimate. The flatness reminds me of the work of Pierre Bonnard, another artist who wasn’t afraid to explore the more awkward and vulnerable aspects of life. For both artists, it's not about perfection, it's about the messy, real, and often unresolved nature of being human.