Dr. Max Linde

Dr. Max Linde is an intimate portrait created by the renowned Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) in 1902. The work, classified as a print, utilizes the challenging technique of drypoint executed on cream wove paper. Drypoint involves directly scratching an image onto a copper plate using a sharp, pointed tool. This process pulls up a ridge of displaced metal, known as the burr, which retains ink and results in a uniquely rich, velvety line quality that softens the resulting image. This piece exemplifies Munch’s ability to use graphic arts to convey deep psychological introspection, a hallmark of his artistic production from Norway.

The subject, Dr. Max Linde, was a wealthy German ophthalmologist, collector, and crucial patron of Munch’s work during the artist’s prolific years in the early 20th century. Linde hosted the artist in Lübeck and commissioned him for major decorative cycles, helping to solidify Munch's reputation outside of Scandinavia. This subtle portrait captures Linde's pensive expression and intellectual intensity, characteristic of the psychological realism Munch infused into his portraiture. The simplicity of the composition, relying entirely on the stark black lines against the pale paper, draws the viewer into the subject’s demeanor.

As a pivotal example of Munch's evolving printmaking practice, this drypoint remains a significant contribution to the early Expressionist movement. While the original is carefully preserved in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the widespread study of Munch’s influential graphic arts, including works like Dr. Max Linde, is facilitated by the availability of high-resolution images now entering the public domain.