Edvard Munch (1863–1944), the renowned Symbolist painter, is considered among the great printmakers of the modern period. He employed printmaking techniques to distill his complex imagery into potent and universal signs that continue to speak to basic human concerns. Munch’s work in etching, lithography, and woodcut is represented in Edvard Munch: Symbolism in Print—Highlights from The Museum of Modern Art, as are his experiments with the same image in more than one technique. This exhibition at Scandinavia House brings together twenty-five of the Norwegian artist’s most powerful compositions, vividly demonstrating his innovative creative process and unique artistic vision. From the iconic depiction of Madonna in color lithography to the abstracted interpretation of The Kiss in his signature method of jigsaw woodcutting, Munch is seen as a master of the Symbolist idiom and an artist whose relationship to the contemporary sensibility has grown increasingly relevant in recent years. The exhibition is organized by Deborah Wye, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Chief Curator of Prints and Illustrated Books at The Museum of Modern Art. All works were chosen from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection of Prints and Illustrated Books.
Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America
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