Harry Graf Kessler 1906

Edvard Munch painted this portrait of Harry Graf Kessler with oils, and it's just fascinating, isn't it? I can imagine Munch, brush in hand, circling his subject, trying to capture more than just a likeness. See how the washes of color bleed and blend, especially around Kessler's head, like an aura or a thought bubble? The brushstrokes are so alive, almost frantic, giving Kessler a nervous energy. I wonder what Munch was thinking about as he painted. Was he trying to get at Kessler's inner self? The choice of colors—the muted purples and yellows—creates a strangely melancholic mood. It reminds me of some of Manet's portraits, but with a raw, emotional edge that's pure Munch. It's like he's saying, "Here's a person, but also a feeling, a moment, a question." And that's the beauty of painting—it lets us ask those questions, over and over.