Portfolio cover and colophon page, from Max Linde's House

"Portfolio cover and colophon page, from Max Linde's House" by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a pivotal print created in 1902. This work is fundamentally linked to a major commission Munch received from the prominent German ophthalmologist and art collector, Dr. Max Linde, who resided in Lübeck. Linde was an early and dedicated patron of the artist, commissioning a series of prints intended to document and celebrate the interiors, garden, and family life within his domestic space. This specialized portfolio demonstrates the breadth of Munch's output beyond his intensely psychological Frieze of Life series.

As a print, this piece functions both as an introductory cover for the bound portfolio and as the colophon page, which provided publishing details. Though the specific printmaking medium may vary, the graphic nature exhibits the characteristic expressive power Munch brought to his two-dimensional work. The imagery, subtly reflecting the architecture of Linde's estate, grounds the subsequent images in a tangible, private setting. This commission was crucial for the artist as he navigated the art market of Northern Germany and maintained his position as a leading figure in Norwegian Modernism.

The complete portfolio, dedicated to domestic themes, showcases Munch’s transition toward projects focusing on architectural space and private life in the early 20th century. The enduring legacy of this collaboration ensures that these unique prints remain essential for scholars studying the history of artistic patronage and print culture of the period. This important work is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing context for the museum’s larger holdings of Munch’s extensive graphic output.