The Death of Marat (Marats død)

The Death of Marat (Marats død) by Edvard Munch is a powerful lithograph created during a highly productive period for the Norwegian artist. Although the primary execution dates span 1906-07, this print was notably signed by Munch later in 1912. This graphic work revisits the famous historical subject of the assassination of the French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat, a theme often associated with Jacques-Louis David's iconic 1793 canvas. However, Munch treats the subject with a profound psychological intensity characteristic of early Expressionism, filtering the event through his own contemporary anxieties regarding love, death, and interpersonal conflict.

As a lithograph, the medium allows Munch to utilize stark contrasts between deep shadows and light areas, lending the image a visceral immediacy suitable for the subject's tragic nature. Unlike the Neoclassical interpretations, Munch’s version is highly simplified in form. The composition typically features a stark, minimal environment emphasizing isolation. Munch’s distinctive application of line and form moves the focus away from historical heroism towards raw, often brutal, human drama.

Executed during a transitional phase in the artist’s prolific career, the emotional intensity captured in The Death of Marat reflects the emerging psychological concerns defining 20th-century art. The print’s complex relationship to earlier depictions demonstrates Munch’s ability to infuse established narratives with a distinctly modern sensibility. This influential piece is classified among the most important prints of the period and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).