Kollmann 1902

This drypoint etching is by Edvard Munch, a Norwegian artist who worked around the turn of the 20th century. Munch is best known for his paintings, often focusing on themes of anxiety and alienation that resonated with the burgeoning modernist movement. But he also made prints, such as this portrait. Printmaking allowed artists to make multiple originals of an image, offering new ways to engage with a growing art market. In its stark economy of line, this portrait evokes the psychological intensity often associated with Munch's work. But consider how the sitter's status as a member of the bourgeoisie – signified by his jacket and tie – may have affected the artist’s approach. Was Munch critiquing the values of the upper class? Or was he attempting to find the universal human condition in every subject? Art historians draw on many resources to understand the nuances of art, including letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews.