Thunder 1984

Edvard Munch made this lithograph called ‘Thunder’ and the limited palette gives it a dark, brooding feel. I love the way the stark contrast between light and shadow seems to vibrate with tension and emotion. You can see the artist creating the image, wiping ink from the stone, allowing the image to emerge from the darkness. The woman, illuminated against the gloom, stands in an attitude of what? Defiance? Or madness? And what about the dark figure hunched over, consumed by some unknown grief? Munch was always pushing the boundaries of expression, exploring the raw edges of human experience. I imagine him grappling with his demons, using the printing stone as a kind of confessional, pouring his anxieties and fears into these stark, unflinching images. And like all great artists, he invites us to grapple with our own.