Melankoli (Melancholy) c. 1902

Editor: Here we have Edvard Munch's "Melankoli," a sketch on wood. It feels raw and vulnerable, like a fleeting thought. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The sketch's rawness, the use of wood itself, speaks to a primal state. Notice how the figure's downcast gaze and the almost fetal position evoke feelings of isolation and despair. The wood grain becomes part of the emotional landscape. Editor: So, it’s not just about what's depicted, but also the materials used? Curator: Precisely. The wood carries its own history, its own scars. Munch is layering emotional weight onto a pre-existing surface. What lasting impressions has it left on you? Editor: I'll definitely look at sketches with a new perspective now. Curator: Me too; recognizing the power of raw emotion and symbolic layers.