Toward the Light 1914 - 1916

Curator: This is Edvard Munch's "Toward the Light," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it feels raw, doesn’t it? Like a sketch of a fever dream, all those lines shooting out… Curator: It does. And it speaks to Munch’s broader investigation into the human condition. We have this lone figure reaching toward what seems to be a radiating sun. Editor: Reaching, yeah, or maybe shielding his eyes? It’s like he’s caught between hope and the fear of being blinded. Curator: Precisely. The lack of clear lines could symbolize the uncertainty and vulnerability inherent in such a pursuit. The title suggests optimism, a striving, but the image complicates that. Editor: It makes you wonder, what is he reaching for? And is it worth the risk? Munch really puts you right there in the middle of it all. Curator: Indeed, his work often confronts existential themes through deeply personal expression. Editor: A powerful image, even in its ambiguity. Leaves you with a lot to think about, doesn't it?