Model by the Wicker Chair 1919 - 1921

Edvard Munch made this painting of a nude model with a wicker chair, and the colours and brushstrokes feel like he was working fast, trying to catch a feeling more than a likeness. Up close, the way Munch uses thin paint lets the canvas peek through, giving the whole scene a kind of ghostly vibe. See how he uses these long, almost scribbled lines of blues and greens to shape the model's body, it's like he's mapping out the energy flowing through her. It's like he’s showing us how he sees the world, not just what he sees. The brushwork around the chair is particularly interesting, a tangle of strokes that suggests form without really defining it. Thinking about other artists who played with this kind of emotional directness, I’m reminded of someone like Alice Neel. Like Neel, Munch isn’t afraid to show the raw edges of feeling and the messiness of being human. This painting isn't about perfection; it's about the messy, beautiful process of seeing and feeling.