Two Women on the Shore (Frauen am Meeresufer) c. 1898

Edvard Munch created this image of two women on a shore using woodcut and lithography, techniques that allow for a remarkable interplay between graphic precision and painterly effect. The rough texture of the woodblock gives the print an immediate, tactile quality. The stark contrasts, achieved through bold cuts in the wood and the flat application of color, emphasize the emotional weight of the scene. Look closely and you’ll notice how the grain of the wood subtly appears within the green field, unifying the composition. Munch’s technique in this work highlights the physicality of printmaking. The process transforms the act of image-making into a physical labor, pressing ink onto paper to capture a fleeting moment. It’s a testament to how materials and making can imbue an artwork with layers of meaning, far beyond its representational content.