Jealousy II 1896

Curator: Munch, that brilliant Norwegian madman, has trapped a raw, visceral emotion in this print called "Jealousy II." I think the dimensions are something like 18 by 22 inches. Editor: Woah, instantly claustrophobic, right? That looming figure in the foreground... the eyes are wild. Curator: Well, in Munch's visual language, those eyes are practically screaming. The man, consumed by jealousy, stares out at us, while behind him, a couple is tangled in a dark embrace. Editor: It’s like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, isn't it? The woman's hair becomes these writhing, almost suffocating snakes. She seems both goddess and temptress. Curator: Spot on! Munch was fascinated by the Fall, by original sin. He frequently used the color red to symbolize these ideas, but here he omits color so we're left only with the raw emotion. Editor: It’s powerful. He’s stripped everything away and left us with the core. This intense study of emotion that just sort of sits with you. Curator: Indeed, a little shard of existential angst to carry around for the rest of the day.