Stormy Night 1908 - 1909

Edvard Munch made this woodcut, Stormy Night, using stark black and white lines to convey a sense of unease. It looks like a dark night, punctuated by the barest of moonlight on the water. I can imagine him carving away at the woodblock, wrestling with the image that he wants to convey. I bet it was a physical process, demanding both precision and strength. The lines in the sky feel like they’re alive, writhing in the wind, contrasting with the more stable forms of the houses. Look at the figure in the foreground, shrouded in a cloak or shawl – are they comforting themselves, as the storm rages around? It’s a deeply felt image, connecting to his famous painting The Scream. Munch was, like all artists, in an ongoing conversation with others through time. He was inspired by, and inspiring to, other artists. His ability to convey intense emotion through simplified forms continues to influence artists working today.