The Dead Lovers 1991

Edvard Munch made this etching, called The Dead Lovers, with his masterful use of line to depict a dramatic scene. Imagine Munch bent over the plate, using a tool to bite into the metal, each line a deliberate mark. The cross-hatching builds up the forms, giving them depth and a sense of weight. The lines are wiry and anxious, giving everything a spooky, raw feel. Look at the woman's hand hanging off the bed. I imagine Munch thinking about the great printmakers like Goya. His mark-making seems to be in conversation with theirs. And like them, I wonder, was he trying to capture a certain mood, a feeling, a psychological state through the stark contrast of light and shadow? He makes me wonder about the enduring power of art to provoke and disturb. This piece is an ongoing dialogue between artists across time, each inspiring the other to push the boundaries of expression and our own expectations.