Portrait Of Käte Perls 1913

Edvard Munch made this portrait of Käte Perls, and the first thing that strikes you is the way he’s just kinda letting the paint happen. It’s all about the materiality; thick strokes building up that gorgeous red hair, contrasting with the thinner washes in the background. You can almost feel the push and pull of the brush, the way he’s loading it up with paint and then scraping it back. Look at that little squiggle of white just above her hands – it's like a tiny explosion of light, capturing the energy of the whole piece. Munch is an artist who isn't afraid to let his process show. You can see some of that same energy in Van Gogh, another artist who wasn’t afraid to let his brushstrokes be visible. Ultimately, art's about asking questions, not giving answers.