Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Edvard Munch. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1902, this untitled drypoint by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch presents a solitary male profile rendered in swift, assured strokes. The figure’s wavy hair and moustache are suggested rather than detailed, while the eyes and jaw receive the clearest emphasis. The paper’s grain contributes a subtle texture, reinforcing the work’s sketch‑like immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a contemplative man turned slightly toward the viewer, his expression conveyed through minimal line work. The focus on the eyes and jaw hints at an inner psychological tension, aligning with Munch’s broader preoccupation with human anxiety and emotional states.
Technique & Style
Munch employed a drypoint needle to incise lines directly into a copper plate, producing burr‑rich edges that appear rough and hand‑drawn. This method yields a loose, spontaneous quality, allowing the artist’s characteristic emphasis on feeling over precise form to emerge within the print medium.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the early phase of Munch’s printmaking practice, a period when he explored various graphic techniques alongside his painting. His training at Oslo’s Royal School of Art and Design and his association with radical thinker Hans Jæger informed the emotive, introspective approach evident in this work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
