Self-Portrait with Striped Pullover 1944

Here we have Edvard Munch's oil on canvas, "Self-Portrait with Striped Pullover." What strikes me first is the rawness of the brushwork. It's not about hiding the process but embracing it, letting each stroke carry its own weight, its own feeling. The yellow ground is so bright. It feels like it is pressing up against the figure, who is standing as if pinned to the surface. I’m really drawn to the area around the shoulders where the white shirt meets the yellow-green background. There's this incredible energy in the way the colors clash and blend. The paint feels almost scrubbed into the canvas. This creates a sense of tension, like the figure is struggling to emerge from the background, or perhaps sinking into it. Thinking about other artists who grapple with the self, I’m reminded of Paula Modersohn-Becker who also used the self-portrait to confront the realities of her life and times. Ultimately, art is about opening up possibilities, embracing uncertainty, and allowing for multiple readings and feelings.