Evening. Melancholy I (Aften. Melankoli I)

Evening. Melancholy I (Aften. Melankoli I) by Edvard Munch is a seminal woodcut created in 1896, representing a crucial phase in the artist’s development of graphic arts. This Norwegian printmaker revolutionized the medium by treating the wooden block not just as a surface, but as a dynamic element capable of expressing emotion. Munch frequently employed the technique of sawing the wood block into separate pieces, inking them individually with different colors, and then reassembling them for printing. This innovative approach resulted in prints defined by stark outlines, simplified forms, and dramatic color contrasts, moving away from traditional illustrative techniques toward psychological expression.

The subject matter centers on profound emotional isolation and introspection, themes central to Munch’s ongoing project, the Frieze of Life. The composition, characteristic of the Expressionist style emerging in 1896, utilizes sweeping, organic lines common in Symbolism to externalize an inner state. A solitary figure, viewed from an extreme angle, sits weighted by sadness against a vast, often abstract backdrop of sea or shore. This deliberate simplification of the environment renders the setting less a specific place and more a metaphor for the human psyche.

Munch’s mastery of the woodcut medium established him as one of the preeminent printmakers of his era. This piece remains a critical example of how graphic work could communicate deep existential anxiety. The lasting significance of this work ensures its continued study, and high-quality prints and reproductions of the master’s catalog are often made available through various public domain initiatives. This vital example of early modern printmaking is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).