Man and Woman II 1915

Curator: Here we have Edvard Munch’s "Man and Woman II" from 1915. Munch, of course, the great Norwegian painter, rendered this oil on canvas with great swathes of color, heavily applied. Editor: Immediately striking—it’s unsettling, yet the thick impasto gives it such tangible presence. I want to know the touch that made these marks! There’s a raw quality; I wonder if Munch directly handled the paint at some point. Curator: Well, Munch, especially after his mental breakdown, moved into a period of reevaluation, consciously attempting to reassert his mastery. What stands out is this interplay between a shadowed, almost spectral male figure and the luminous presence of the woman. Editor: It’s the dichotomy that's so provocative—one feels shrouded, nearly disappearing into the background; the other strikingly present in her fashionable attire, but the muted tones suggest this isn't about glamour but the labor in dress making at the time. Curator: Look at the subtle symbols, however. Note how the planes create something akin to domestic interior; and, yet, the couple appears separated, perhaps by more than mere feet. It suggests disconnection and longing. Munch often dealt with existential loneliness, with feelings of isolation. The couple in such close proximity seem far removed, each locked in a private realm. Editor: I’m intrigued by your mentioning loneliness since I’m stuck on that the materiality communicates so strongly; but it doesn’t read “lonely” to me but that labor makes this division visible. I’d also add, perhaps controversially, that I am not certain if the brushwork can express emotion; the content and its making might though! Curator: Material considerations may not communicate the painter’s emotion but in context, the heaviness in brushwork combined with an ambiguous portrait seems more than meets the eye and reveals inner tension. Editor: I will never be entirely convinced but understanding his materials might at least inform us somewhat of the truth... Curator: Certainly it prompts discussion about our own understanding of our inner lives and outer connections. Editor: Well put, perhaps this has been worthwhile!