The Smell of Death

The Smell of Death is a powerful woodcut on paper created by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) in 1915. This unsettling image exemplifies Munch’s profound engagement with themes of psychological trauma, illness, and mortality that defined his Expressionist output. As a master of graphic arts, Munch frequently utilized the woodcut medium, appreciating its stark lines and ability to convey raw, emotional intensity. The production of prints allowed him to circulate his deeply personal iconography widely, making his works accessible outside traditional painting formats. This piece originated during a highly productive period for the artist following the difficult years leading up to his nervous breakdown in 1908.

The work, though created relatively late in his career, maintains the psychological tension typical of Munch’s earlier, seminal production. His deliberate handling of the wood grain often contributes texture and an unsettling atmosphere to the surface of his prints. This stark presentation reflects the cultural climate of Norway and the wider Expressionist movement challenging conventional artistic representation. The emphasis on internal psychological states over external reality is a hallmark of Munch’s aesthetic. Although the precise figural subject of the 1915 woodcut remains open to interpretation, the title The Smell of Death immediately anchors the viewer in an experience of irreversible loss and existential dread. This significant work is now held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a key example of Scandinavian Expressionist graphic art.