Männer am Meer 1908

Edvard Munch painted "Männer am Meer" with oils, and you can see how he's building up the surface through colour. It's less about capturing detail and more about mood and process. Munch's brushwork in this piece feels impulsive, almost desperate, and the thick paint creates a tangible texture. The way the blues of the sea are streaked with turquoise and white gives it an almost feverish quality. Look at the figures themselves – the way their bodies are outlined with such dark, almost violent strokes. It’s like Munch is trying to capture the feeling of being alive, not just the look of it. The red and yellow in the skin tones suggest a sense of internal heat or passion. It's hard to pin Munch down to one thing, but you can see the influence of Van Gogh, maybe even a touch of Ensor. It's like they’re all trying to find a way to paint the unpaintable – feelings, emotions, the stuff that lives inside us. It's about leaving room for the unknown, embracing the idea that art doesn’t have to have all the answers.