Melancholy II 1898

Editor: Here we have Edvard Munch's "Melancholy II," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The somber color palette and the figure's bowed head create a palpable sense of dejection. What do you make of the composition in conveying this emotion? Curator: The effectiveness of "Melancholy II" lies in its formal construction. Note the stark contrast between the red figure and the deep blues, heightening the sense of isolation. The sinuous lines of the landscape seem to echo the figure's emotional state, a visual mirroring of inner turmoil. What significance do you ascribe to that repetition? Editor: I guess it emphasizes the connection between the figure and her environment, suggesting that melancholy permeates everything. I hadn't thought about it that way before! Curator: Indeed. By focusing on line, color, and form, Munch visually articulates the profound weight of melancholy, a weight both personal and universal.