Attraction II (Tiltrekning II)

Attraction II (Tiltrekning II) by Edvard Munch is a pivotal print created in 1895. This deeply expressive work demonstrates the Norwegian artist’s mastery of intaglio processes, specifically combining etching and drypoint. The drypoint technique, which involves drawing directly onto the copper plate with a sharp needle, yields a distinctively rich, velvety burr that lends a dark, atmospheric intensity to the scene. This utilization of varied line weight and texture allows Munch to heighten the emotional charge inherent in the subject matter.

The subject is characteristic of Munch’s explorations into modern alienation and the fragile dynamics of relationships. It depicts a close but tense interaction between a man and a woman, their proximity failing to diminish a sense of mutual psychological isolation. The figures' simplified forms and highly expressive gestures place the work firmly within the Symbolist tradition, prioritizing internal emotional states over external realistic detail. The dark, sweeping lines pull the viewer into the emotional struggle, a hallmark of Munch’s aesthetic output during the 1890s. This series, concerned with the inevitable tension between yearning and rejection, solidified the thematic groundwork for many of the artist's later, iconic works.

Munch was revolutionary in advancing printmaking as a primary medium for profound artistic expression, using the reproducibility of prints to explore variations on his most crucial thematic ideas, such as love, loss, and anxiety. This particular piece, dated 1895, serves as a crucial document in the evolution of modern graphic art and remains a foundational example of his stylistic intensity. This important example of Norwegian cultural production is housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, where it is referenced globally for its contribution to early Expressionism.