Omega's Eyes 1908 - 1909

"Omega's Eyes" was made by Edvard Munch; you can find it at the Art Institute of Chicago. Look at this drawing, really look! Can’t you just see him there, Munch, working away, his hand moving in short, decisive strokes? The girl, the only focus of the work, is surrounded by all this paper, all this space. She's pale, sketchy and unclear. It's as though he’s trying to capture something elusive, something about youth perhaps, the cusp between childhood and adulthood. Her eyes are huge, they draw you in... Omega's eyes are like windows into a soul, or maybe into Munch's soul. They are huge and questioning. Munch’s practice was all about capturing feeling, memory, and the raw edges of emotion; you can see all these themes in the face of the girl. He captures an ambiguity in the face of Omega that perhaps reflects the ambiguity of life itself. Like all good paintings, it embraces uncertainty, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and experiences to the table.