Dr. Linde's Four Sons

Dr. Linde's Four Sons is an intimate 1902 print created by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. This specific drypoint impression, executed on buff wove paper, showcases Munch’s mastery of graphic media during a critical phase of his career. The drypoint technique involves scratching directly into the metal plate, resulting in distinctive lines characterized by the velvety texture of the metal burr raised along the etched groove. The plate was skillfully printed by Otto Felsing, a renowned German printer often utilized by Munch and other major Symbolist artists, ensuring high quality in the final prints disseminated to collectors.

The composition relates directly to Munch’s significant relationship with Dr. Max Linde, a wealthy ophthalmologist and art collector in Lübeck, Germany. Linde was one of Munch's most important early patrons, commissioning portraits of his family and a significant decorative cycle for his home. Unlike the intensely emotional themes usually associated with the Norwegian master, this piece focuses on domesticity and observational portraiture, capturing the individual personalities of the four young subjects. Munch often moved between his native Norway and the artistic centers of Germany around the turn of the century, allowing him to produce a prodigious body of graphic art.

This piece, classified simply as a print, offers a quiet counterpoint to the dramatic existential themes found elsewhere in the artist's output. The specific focus on the individual characteristics of the four boys reveals a sensitive and observational side of Munch's artistry. As Munch’s lifespan ensures that much of his prolific graphic output is now in the public domain, the work remains highly accessible for study and reproduction. This impression of Dr. Linde's Four Sons is housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.