Who painted Two Heads?

Two Heads was painted by Edvard Munch in 1920.

Where can I see Two Heads?

Two Heads is held by Munch Museum.

What movement is Two Heads?

Two Heads is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Two Heads

Edvard Munch , 1920

Two Heads is a crayon painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1920, *Two Heads* is a small work executed with wax crayon on paper. The composition presents a pair of profile silhouettes placed side by side, rendered in stark, expressive lines. The right-hand figure shows slightly more detail and a subtle turn toward the viewer, while the left remains more schematic. The limited palette of greys and beiges reinforces the work’s austere mood.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing isolates the human head, reducing it to essential contours that suggest inner feeling rather than physical likeness. By juxtaposing a more defined profile with a simpler one, the artist invites comparison between differing states of perception or emotional intensity, a concern that recurs in his broader oeuvre.

Technique & Style

Munch employed wax crayon to lay down bold, fluid strokes that convey both form and kinetic energy. The line work is unapologetically direct, with minimal shading, allowing the limited tonal range to emphasize contrast. This approach aligns with the post‑impressionist tendency toward personal expression over naturalistic representation.

History & Provenance

The piece entered the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public. It was acquired as part of the museum’s effort to assemble a comprehensive representation of the artist’s later period, illustrating his continued experimentation with media after his early successes.

Context

By the early 1920s, the Norwegian artist had endured personal loss and chronic illness, experiences that deepened his focus on psychological themes.

By the early 1920s, the Norwegian artist had endured personal loss and chronic illness, experiences that deepened his focus on psychological themes. His studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania and his association with radical thinker Hans Jæger had already oriented his work toward exploring inner turmoil, a preoccupation evident in the stark, emotive line quality of *Two Heads*.