Study of a Model

Study of a Model, executed in 1894 by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a powerful early example of the artist's profound engagement with printmaking. This particular impression, classified as a print, is characterized by the sophisticated use of drypoint and open bite etching techniques. Executed in black ink on off-white wove plate paper, the combination of techniques allows for both sharp, incisive lines derived from the drypoint work and broader, tonal areas achieved through open bite, lending the image a raw, sketch-like immediacy.

Created during a critical period in Munch’s career, this piece reflects the psychological intensity and symbolic interests dominating Scandinavian art in the 1890s. Although cataloged simply as a study, the posture of the figure and the minimal environment suggest the profound emotional isolation often explored in Munch’s larger symbolic paintings. The stark contrast between the model's form and the dark background heightens the dramatic tension, a signature quality of the expressionistic style Munch helped pioneer. The sustained exploration of the isolated human figure, stripped down and vulnerable, became central to the artist’s practice following his formative years working in Paris and Berlin.

As an important surviving example of the artist’s graphic production, this early print provides valuable insight into Munch's developing technical virtuosity in handling varied media. The Art Institute of Chicago holds this scarce impression in its permanent collection, representing a significant acquisition of works originating from Norway. Many of Munch’s most impactful images, originally created as prints, are today considered seminal components of the public domain of modern art.