Moonlight. Night in St Cloud

The influential print Moonlight. Night in St Cloud by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, was executed in 1895. This sophisticated work, classified as a print, showcases Munch's early mastery of graphic arts, a medium that became central to his creative output. The artist crafted this image using drypoint, with additional refinement through open bite and burnishing on cream wove paper, techniques which lend the piece remarkable depth, texture, and tonal range. The stark, high contrast achieved through the intensive drypoint technique emphasizes the dramatic shadows and isolated mood, characteristic of Symbolist aesthetics.

While stemming from the culture of Norway, Munch created this particular scene during his time near Paris, capturing the psychological atmosphere rather than a topographical reality. The print exemplifies his move toward Expressionism, where the depiction of internal emotional states supersedes traditional visual realism. Munch’s works from this decade frequently dealt with themes of loneliness, anxiety, and the intense psychological drama of the modern age. The subtle variations in line density created by the complex process of burnishing highlight the melancholic isolation implied by the stark moonlight falling across the nocturnal vista. This powerful example of graphic experimentation belongs to the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a vital example of late 19th-century prints, reproductions of Moonlight. Night in St Cloud are often studied worldwide, sometimes made available for scholarship through public domain initiatives related to the museum’s holdings.