Man and Woman I 1905

This image, Man and Woman I, was created by Edvard Munch using the woodcut technique. This involves carving a design into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. The raw quality of woodcut is evident here. Look at the bold lines and how Munch used the grain of the wood to add texture to the image. The process also allows for striking contrasts, seen in the stark white faces against the dark background. Woodcut is a relatively accessible medium, and it allowed Munch to produce multiple prints of his work. This was important for disseminating his ideas widely in a pre-digital age. The emotional intensity of the image is enhanced by the graphic nature of the woodcut. The act of carving, a physical and direct process, mirrors the raw and sometimes brutal nature of human relationships. By embracing this so-called 'low' medium, Munch challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, infusing the print with both technical skill and profound emotional depth.