Landscape with Tree Trunk 1922 - 1924

Edvard Munch made this small landscape with a tree trunk on paper using crayon, but when exactly, we don’t know. The way Munch uses the crayon here feels like he’s thinking out loud. The marks aren't trying to be too precious. It’s like he’s feeling his way through the scene, letting the landscape emerge as he goes. You can see the texture of the crayon on the page, each stroke distinct yet blending with the others. This gives the piece a raw, immediate quality. The color is almost monochromatic, a muted purple that creates a somber mood. Look at how the trunk is drawn, it's just a few lines that suggest form and mass. It reminds me a little of Van Gogh, though Munch brings his own sense of anxiety and emotional intensity. It's a sketch, but it's also so much more than that – it's a glimpse into the artist's mind.