Dr. Max Linde

Dr. Max Linde is a lithograph created in 1902 by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944). This print depicts the artist's friend and significant patron, Dr. Max Linde, an ophthalmologist who ran a sanatorium in Lübeck and frequently commissioned works from Munch, including the influential series, the Linde Frieze. The technique employed here, lithography on paper, was essential to Munch’s artistic practice, allowing him to rapidly produce and disseminate powerful imagery while emphasizing deep tonal contrasts. During this period, the early 1900s, Munch was at the height of his exploration of psychological themes, often using the stark quality of black-and-white prints to convey inner turmoil or intense focus.

The composition focuses tightly on the sitter's face and upper torso, utilizing heavy shadows and expressive lines characteristic of the nascent Expressionist movement. Unlike traditional, idealized portraits, Munch’s depiction of Linde suggests intellectual gravity and perhaps introspection, capturing the complex relationship between artist and patron. As a foundational figure of modernism in Norway and across Europe, Munch utilized printmaking to broaden the reach of his Symbolist vision. This particular piece is a key example of the master’s work in portraiture and printmaking, affirming his reputation alongside contemporaries like Gauguin and Van Gogh. This seminal print currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars access to primary examples of early 20th-century Norwegian graphic art. The availability of such high-quality prints often places these historical works in the public domain, ensuring they remain vital resources for art historical study.