Henry van de Velde 1906

Editor: This is Edvard Munch's lithograph of Henry van de Velde. It’s just a head, really, stark on the page. What do you read in this portrait? Curator: It's the gaze, isn't it? Piercing, analytical. I think Munch is less interested in van de Velde's likeness and more interested in the man's intellect. Notice the economy of line – so direct. The portrait feels less observed, and more intuited. What do you think? Editor: It's like Munch is x-raying his mind. I see a sort of creative tension. I guess that makes sense given their history. Curator: Exactly! They admired each other, but there was friction. Art can crystallize that friction into something powerful. Editor: I see that now. It's more than a portrait, it's a conversation on paper!