Physics 1909

Edvard Munch made this painting, Physics, at some point in his career using thin layers of oil paint on canvas or board, it’s hard to tell. It’s so pale, like a memory fading into the wall. I can imagine Munch working on this, maybe outside, squinting at the canvas, trying to capture the essence of a moment. The lovers are wrapped in each other's arms, but there’s something unsettling about it too, like they’re standing on top of a graveyard or a pile of bones. Look at the way the paint is applied – so fluid and translucent, like he’s trying to capture something ephemeral, something that’s always just out of reach. I’m reminded of other artists who’ve explored similar themes – like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also wrestled with questions of love, death, and the human condition. Painting has a beautiful way of embracing ambiguity, of allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.