On the Waves of Love 1896

Curator: Looking at this image, I immediately sense a profound stillness, almost a pre-Raphaelite languor, despite the roiling waves. Editor: This is Edvard Munch’s lithograph, "On the Waves of Love," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The dimensions of the sheet are roughly 35 by 47 centimeters. The texture alone suggests the material possibilities and limitations of lithographic printing. Curator: Absolutely. The swirling lines evoke both the fluidity of water and the entangling nature of love, a duality Munch often explored. Notice how the figures are submerged, almost drowning, in their emotions. Editor: And it's intriguing how Munch used lithography to achieve this effect. The process involves drawing on stone and then transferring the image. I am curious about his choice to use lithography for this subject matter. Curator: Indeed. Water is a powerful symbol—of cleansing, of rebirth, but also of overwhelming force. The couple seems adrift, caught in the undertow of their connection. Those stars above evoke the infinite depths of space as a metaphor for the boundlessness of love. Editor: Considering the labor-intensive nature of lithography, it’s tempting to see the act of creation itself as mirroring the painstaking navigation of relationships. Curator: Perhaps. For me, the print captures love's ability to both elevate and submerge us. Editor: Ultimately, it offers a powerful commentary on human relationships and the artist's relationship to the work.