Table of Contents

"Table of Contents" is a significant lithograph created by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944 between 1908 and 1909. This period marks a pivotal transition in the artist's career, immediately following his stay at Dr. Jacobson's clinic in Copenhagen, where he sought treatment for nervous exhaustion. While perhaps less overtly emotional than his iconic late-19th-century paintings, this work, classified as a print, still bears the psychological complexity characteristic of Munch’s oeuvre. The production of the lithograph coincided with Munch’s return to his native Norway, influencing the stylistic precision often observed in his post-1908 works.

As a lithograph on paper, the work showcases Munch’s continued mastery of printmaking, a medium he frequently utilized for its expressive potential and ability to disseminate his art widely. The artist used prints not merely to reproduce existing compositions but to explore variations and new approaches. The specific imagery of Table of Contents is somewhat abstracted or symbolic, using the stark contrasts and rich blacks achievable through the lithographic process. This technique allowed Munch to convey deep psychological states through line and density, a hallmark of Norwegian modernism during this era.

This fine example of the artist’s later work demonstrates the continued evolution of his Expressionist approach, emphasizing internal experience over outward reality. The creation date of 1908-1909 places the piece firmly within the context of early European modernism, confirming the continued importance of printmaking to Munch’s practice. Today, this important piece of art is held in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.