Two Human Beings. The Lonely Ones 1899

Editor: This is "Two Human Beings. The Lonely Ones" by Edvard Munch. The figures appear silhouetted against a stark landscape, almost like woodcuts. What strikes you most about its construction? Curator: The materiality is critical here. Look at the wood grain, the way the paint interacts with it, almost fighting against it. How does this medium, this process of making, contribute to the sense of isolation the title suggests? Is it about artistic labor and the social conditions surrounding Munch's artmaking? Editor: So, the physical act of creation mirrors the emotional weight? Curator: Precisely. The roughness, the apparent struggle with the materials, speaks volumes about the human condition. Editor: I hadn't considered the labor involved in expressing loneliness. Very insightful!