Head by Head 1905

Editor: Here we have Edvard Munch's "Head by Head," a print at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by how the faces seem to merge and the background's almost suffocating lines. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Well, Munch was very interested in the psychological impact of art, its public role in expressing anxieties. Notice how the woodcut technique, with its rough, immediate lines, enhances that feeling. How might the institutional context, like exhibiting this in a museum, affect our reading of such an intimate scene? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the gallery space influencing my feelings. Thank you, that gives me a new perspective! Curator: It's all about the interplay between the art, its history, and its current presentation.