Melancholy III

Melancholy III is a powerful color woodcut created by the influential Norwegian Expressionist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) between 1915 and 1917. This specific impression, classified as a print, was executed by the German firm Lassally, active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Munch was pivotal in elevating printmaking, especially the woodcut, into a significant vehicle for profound emotional expression, influencing the next generation of German Expressionists.

The creation of this work utilized a highly innovative and laborious technique involving color separation achieved through two distinct wood blocks. Munch frequently manipulated his blocks aggressively, using specialized tools such as gouges, a chisel, and even a fretsaw to achieve the stark, distinctive textures and dramatic shifts in hue apparent in the final impression on paper. This deliberate simplification of form and heightening of visual distress were crucial hallmarks of Munch’s mature style.

Stemming from the artist’s career-long exploration of psychological isolation and existential anxiety, the piece continues the theme of melancholy that permeates his celebrated body of work, echoing similar thematic explorations found in his monumental canvases. Though executed during the tumultuous wartime years, the work embodies the enduring, emotive power for which Munch is internationally known. This historic print resides within the distinguished permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars and the public crucial insight into the development of Expressionism in Norway and across Europe.