The Day After 1895

Curator: Edvard Munch's etching, "The Day After," just hits you, doesn't it? There's such stark vulnerability in the figure. Editor: Vulnerable and completely wrecked! The slumped figure, the strewn bottles… It's a raw depiction of the morning after a serious bender. Curator: Munch was, of course, a master of portraying emotional intensity. You can feel the weight of regret, the physical toll. Editor: Absolutely. And think about it – this wasn’t some private sketch. He chose to put this on display! It’s a very public reckoning with private turmoil. Curator: It makes you wonder about the societal pressures and expectations he was grappling with. It’s pretty bold for its time, wouldn't you agree? Editor: It is. I imagine many viewers would’ve been scandalized. This piece makes you think about the stories we choose to hide, and the ones we dare to show. Curator: It's a potent reminder that art can be a mirror, reflecting back both our individual and collective struggles. Editor: And Munch wasn’t afraid to hold that mirror up, unflinchingly.