Thunder 1984

Edvard Munch created this print, called Thunder, using lithography. The stark black and white contrast gives the scene an intense, almost theatrical feel. It’s all about capturing a raw, unfiltered emotion. Look at the way Munch uses these bold, graphic strokes to carve out the shapes. It's like he’s wrestling with the medium, trying to pin down something elusive. I find myself drawn to the figure on the right, hunched over, head in hand. The darkness that swallows their form is almost total, the inky blackness relieved only by the hand at the side of the head. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn’t afraid to delve into the darker corners of the human experience, using printmaking to explore themes of grief, loss, and resilience.