The Sick Child 1907

Editor: Here we have Edvard Munch's "The Sick Child," housed at the Tate. The green and red tones give it such a feverish, unsettling atmosphere. What strikes you about this painting? Curator: The clasped hands are powerful. They remind me of medieval devotional images, the way they’re highlighted, almost like a visual prayer. Do you see how the bowed head echoes the fragility of life, a modern-day Pietà? Editor: I see the resemblance, but I hadn’t thought of it in such a religious context. Curator: It's not explicitly religious, but Munch taps into that deep well of human suffering and compassion that's been represented for centuries. It's a potent symbol of shared grief. Editor: That makes me appreciate the painting's emotional depth even more. Curator: Indeed, by referencing familiar visual language, Munch amplifies the personal tragedy with universal resonance.