Encounter in Space 1899

Edvard Munch created this print, "Encounter in Space," using woodcut, a technique where an image is carved into a block of wood, inked, and then pressed onto paper. The way Munch has carved the wood directly influences the print's strong graphic quality. Look at the bold lines and the way the wood's grain appears in the black background; it's a testament to the directness of the process. The different colored inks suggest different blocks might have been used for each color in the artwork. Woodcut is a relatively accessible medium, historically associated with popular imagery and broadsides, distinct from the more refined realm of painting. By embracing woodcut, Munch aligns himself with a tradition that values direct expression, even roughness, over polish. This choice echoes the raw emotion often found in his work, challenging the norms of traditional fine art.