The Flower of Love 1896

Editor: We're looking at "The Flower of Love" by Edvard Munch. It seems to be a charcoal drawing, quite haunting. What visual elements stand out to you in this piece? Curator: Note how Munch uses stark chiaroscuro to generate a sense of unease. The sinuous lines describing the figures are echoed by the dark, enclosing forms, creating a visual metaphor for entrapment. Editor: Entrapment, really? I saw tenderness in the embrace. Curator: Consider the formal oppositions. The figures' paleness against the dark background. The tension between flowing lines and abrupt shading. These elements don't solely convey tenderness. It's much more ambivalent. Editor: I never would have thought of it that way. Thank you! Curator: A close reading of form reveals layers of meaning beyond the immediately apparent.