Attraction I

Attraction I is a pivotal lithograph created in 1896 by Norwegian Symbolist master Edvard Munch, executed in collaboration with the renowned Parisian master printer Auguste Clot. This specific impression is printed in black ink on delicate grayish-ivory China paper, a material choice that enhances the stark contrast between line and void, intensifying the psychological depth typical of Munch’s Symbolist approach. The classification of this piece as a print was central to the artist’s strategy, as lithography allowed him to quickly reproduce and elaborate upon the central thematic cycles exploring anxiety, relationships, and human isolation.

The year 1896 marked a crucial period when Munch was actively expanding his graphic vocabulary in Paris, recognizing the reproductive potential of prints to disseminate his powerful psychological imagery across the continent. Working closely with Clot, known for his technical excellence, Munch achieved a high degree of artistic control over the medium. Munch explored themes related to the complexities of emotional connection and separation that defined his major artistic output. The simple graphic elegance of the work was essential to the artist’s goal of establishing a modern iconography centered on internal human experience. This influential impression of Attraction I remains a key part of the permanent collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, illustrating the enduring legacy of this pivotal figure in modern art history. Many records of the artist’s extensive output are now available through public domain collections, helping preserve the history of his graphic works.