The Kiss IV

The Kiss IV by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a definitive example of the artist’s seminal work in modern printmaking. Executed in 1902, this impression is a sophisticated woodcut printed in gray-brown and black ink on delicate cream Japanese paper. Munch innovated the traditional medium by utilizing two separate wood blocks; crucially, one of these was sawn into two distinct sections. This painstaking, early 20th-century technique allowed Munch to apply color and tone selectively and exploit the wood grain for textural variation, achieving the raw, visceral expressiveness central to the art movement emerging from Norway.

The subject matter is characteristic of Munch's intense psychological studies, focusing on the intimate yet claustrophobic merging of two figures. The composition abstracts the embracing couple, transforming their separate identities into a single, dark, monolithic form pressed against the simplified rectilinear background. This focus on internal states rather than external detail elevates the piece from mere representation to powerful symbolic expression.

Munch's ability to simplify form while maximizing emotional resonance secured his influence on subsequent movements, particularly German Expressionism. This exceptional print, exemplifying his technical mastery of the woodcut classification, is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as a vital reference for understanding the artist’s contribution to modern prints.