Two Girls and a Skeleton (Die Beiden Madchen das Gerippe) 1896

Edvard Munch created this print, Two Girls and a Skeleton, using etching. The process involves drawing into a prepared ground on a metal plate, which is then exposed to acid. The acid bites into the metal wherever the ground has been removed, creating recessed lines that hold ink. These lines, and the paper that receives them, exert a strong influence on the overall effect. The thinness of the etched lines, combined with the toned paper, gives the image a delicate, ghostly quality. But this isn't just about aesthetics. Munch used a process capable of being reproduced many times over to consider a theme of mortality. The print medium suggests that the artist was interested in reaching a wider audience, and so he chose a relatively inexpensive process that makes his reflection on life, death, and the human condition widely available, not just for the wealthy. In this way, Munch democratizes a subject once reserved for high art, bringing it down to earth and making it accessible to all.