Jealousy II 1896

Editor: This is Edvard Munch's "Jealousy II" housed at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm immediately struck by the stark contrast and the haunting expression on the foregrounded figure’s face. How do you interpret the composition of this work? Curator: The power of this image resides within its formal arrangement. Observe how Munch employs a restricted palette to amplify the emotional weight. The foreground figure, rendered with striking lines, visually dominates, while the couple in the background are almost swallowed by the darkness. Editor: So, the visual imbalance emphasizes the man's isolation and internal turmoil? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the swirling lines of the landscape mirror the turbulent emotions suggested by the man’s exaggerated features. The composition itself becomes a visual metaphor for jealousy. Editor: I see that now. Thanks, that clarified a lot about how form can communicate emotion.