Jealousy I 1896

Editor: This is "Jealousy I" by Edvard Munch. Looking at the stark black and white etching, I’m struck by how raw the emotion feels. The jealous figure dominates the foreground, almost suffocating the lovers in the background. What production choices amplify that raw feeling for you? Curator: I immediately look at the material reality of the printmaking process here. Notice how the rough, uneven lines, likely achieved through etching, contribute to the unsettling mood. How do you think the choice of printmaking, a process allowing for multiples, affects the message of the work? Editor: I hadn't thought of that, but the idea of jealousy being mass-produced, or universally felt, is very interesting. Curator: Exactly. And consider the societal context: the late 19th-century rise of industrialization and mass production, with a concurrent rise of anxieties around individual identity and relationships. This connects directly to the themes in "Jealousy I." Editor: That’s a great point. It reframes the artwork as not just a personal expression but also a commentary on the anxieties of the era. Curator: Indeed. By examining the materiality and production, we gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's social and cultural significance.