Self-portrait with a Bottle of Wine 1930

Editor: Here we have Edvard Munch's "Self-portrait with a Bottle of Wine," a lithograph printed on paper. It feels incredibly lonely. What's your take on this piece? Curator: Well, beyond the surface loneliness, consider Munch's historical context. Alcoholism was a prevalent societal ill, particularly impacting male identity. Does this image critique or reflect that reality, or both? Editor: That's a good point. It shows how prevalent alcoholism was. The ghostly figures in the background are especially evocative when we consider it as a critique of that male role. Curator: Exactly. And notice how Munch positions himself in relation to them, and to the bottle. Where does the power lie, in your opinion? Editor: I see how the bottle and the figures are connected... It's a portrait not just of a man, but of a system. Curator: Precisely! It invites us to question the forces shaping identity, then and now. Editor: I will never look at another one of his self-portraits the same way. Curator: Me neither!