Bjørn 1908 - 1909

Curator: Here we have Edvard Munch's lithograph and pencil drawing "Bjørn", dating from 1908-1909, which is held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. Editor: My initial reaction is to the drawing's raw energy! The sketchiness of the lines gives the bear a powerful sense of movement. Curator: Indeed. It's fascinating to see Munch engaging with animal studies in this way, considering the socio-political context of the time. Artists were grappling with ideas about nature and humanity's place within it. His depiction here may speak to broader societal anxieties. Editor: Absolutely. The formal elements, though—the varying weight of the pencil lines, the areas of dense hatching versus the almost ethereal lightness of the fur, the strategic use of the blank page—all these contribute to an immediate sense of the animal's weight and texture. Curator: Considering the lithographic process, we might ask, what drove Munch to explore such a seemingly simple subject? The period he produced this piece in involved Munch exploring themes surrounding the psychological weight that impacted him during this part of his career. Editor: To your point on process, the interplay between the immediacy of the pencil sketch and the lithographic printmaking allows for capturing something fleeting but fundamental to the artist, the character and inherent essence of form. I feel like the form is speaking very loud here, or rather, growling at me from the image. Curator: And how does it feel when it "growls" at you? Editor: Formally speaking, the gesture, expression. The bear looms like a large specter or totem. A spirit. Curator: These emotional readings remind us that artworks have their own social lives, often changing alongside us and influencing subsequent generations of viewers in complex ways. Editor: And looking closely at his mark making reminds us how even simple sketches can convey a wealth of textural information. Curator: This work underscores the capacity of art to provoke introspection and contemplation, and demonstrates art's integral place within broader society. Editor: A remarkable work that offers much food for thought indeed.