The Wave 1931

Edvard Munch’s painting presents us with a seemingly simple motif: a wave. The fluid, undulating movement of water has captivated artists and cultures for millennia. Consider Hokusai's Great Wave, where the wave is an overwhelming force of nature, or even the gentle ripples in Monet's water lilies. Here, Munch offers something different. The wave is not just water; it embodies a deeper psychological current. It carries the weight of the collective unconscious, a symbol of life's ceaseless flux. Reflect on how water has consistently represented the subconscious, the emotional depths within us. Munch's wave, with its swirling, almost turbulent quality, evokes the intense emotional states experienced during times of change. This symbol is not linear; it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different contexts, perpetually mirroring our inner turmoils.