Vampire II c. 1895 - 1913

Editor: So, this is Edvard Munch’s "Vampire II", housed here at Harvard. What strikes me is the texture, you can really see the marks of the woodblock. What do you see in this piece, considering its material presence? Curator: I see a critical exploration of production, where the artist’s hand is evident, almost foregrounded. The visible woodgrain emphasizes the labor involved and challenges the romanticism often associated with Munch. How does this materiality influence our consumption of the image? Editor: It makes it feel less distant, more about the process than just the final image. I hadn't thought about that! Curator: Exactly. It forces us to consider the means of creation alongside the supposed meaning, blurring the lines between high art and craft. A potent commentary on artistic labor. Editor: I'll never look at a Munch print the same way again. Thanks!