August Strindberg 1896

Editor: This is Edvard Munch's portrait of August Strindberg. The stark contrast and scratchy lines give it such an intense feeling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I find the lithographic technique particularly compelling. Note how the artist uses the density and directionality of the lines to create form and texture. Do you see how the hatching around the eyes gives them a sunken, almost haunted quality? Editor: Yes, it’s like he’s peering out from the darkness. It’s all in the lines and the way they are arranged. Curator: Precisely. It is through these formal elements that the artist conveys psychological depth. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Analyzing these fundamental components reveals so much.