Mannen rond een tafel in een café

Mannen rond een tafel in een café is a psychologically charged print created by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch in 1895. Executed on paper, this work originates from a pivotal moment in Munch’s career when he was intensely exploring graphic mediums, transitioning from primarily oil painting to utilizing techniques like lithography and woodcut to disseminate his powerful Symbolist imagery.

The composition depicts several male figures seated around a table within a dimly lit café environment, yet the piece immediately subverts the expectation of social interaction. Instead of conveying camaraderie, Munch focuses on the profound isolation of the figures, who appear lost in introspection, separated from one another despite their close physical proximity. This emphasis on individual anxiety and modern alienation is central to the Expressionist sensibilities that Munch pioneered. The stark contrasts, simplified outlines, and the lack of detailed modeling characteristic of the artist’s graphic style enhance the work's emotional intensity.

Munch’s experimentation with printmaking during this period significantly influenced the development of modern European art, particularly impacting the German Expressionists who followed. His ability to distill complex psychological states into essential visual forms solidified his reputation as a master of both painting and print. This original 1895 example of the work resides within the distinguished collection of the Rijksmuseum. Because the medium is a print, high-resolution representations of this masterwork, along with other essential Munch pieces, are often available through public domain sources, allowing global access to one of the 19th century’s most influential psychological studies.