Sunbathing I

Sunbathing I by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a striking example of the artist's innovative approach to printmaking in the mid-1910s. Executed in 1915, this significant print is a complex woodcut employing two separate blocks and a highly chromatic palette. Munch achieved this layered richness using a remarkable variety of inks, including pink, orange, red, yellow, yellowish-green, blue, green, and brown, applied meticulously to heavyweight cream wove paper. This ambitious technique allowed the Norwegian master to create tones and transitions usually associated only with painting.

Following his definitive return to Norway in 1909, Munch continued to explore fundamental themes related to the body, nature, and emotional states, though often with a brighter, more integrated style than his earlier Symbolist works. The subject of sunbathing places the work firmly within the context of early 20th-century leisure, celebrating the modern, often casual, relationship with the outdoors.

This print reflects a period of heightened productivity where Munch synthesized his graphic experimentation with figurative concerns. His distinctive method of cutting and reassembling blocks for registration enabled him to print multiple colors simultaneously, demonstrating his lasting influence on the evolution of modern prints, particularly within German Expressionism. The enduring appeal of Munch's graphic output ensures that masterpieces like Sunbathing I are cornerstones for students of modern art. This particular impression is held in the renowned collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a powerful record of the artist's mature graphic innovation.