Rue de Rivoli 1891

Curator: Here we have Edvard Munch’s “Rue de Rivoli," a canvas that pulls you into the bustling heart of Paris. Editor: My first thought is that it's like a dreamscape, or maybe a half-remembered memory of a crowded street. The figures seem to be rushing toward some unknown vanishing point. Curator: Absolutely. Munch captures the sensory overload of modern urban life, focusing on the street's energy. Note how his brushstrokes, almost frantic, create a sense of perpetual motion. Editor: It’s interesting how he uses these brushstrokes to almost bury the figures in plain sight. It evokes a sense of anonymity within the crowd. Curator: The high vantage point—looking down into the street—also reinforces the sense of detachment and observation that pervades much of Munch's work. Editor: Maybe it's just me, but I find a strange kind of beauty in the chaos he depicts. Curator: I agree. The composition, combined with the subject matter, reflects how even in anonymity, we still connect. Editor: It's a captivating slice of Parisian life, interpreted through Munch's unique lens.