The Tiger and the Bear

The Tiger and the Bear by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a powerful example of the artist's graphic work, executed as a lithograph on paper between 1908 and 1909. This period marks a critical transitional phase for Munch. Following a nervous breakdown and subsequent institutionalization, he began to shift his artistic focus from the raw depiction of personal psychological anguish to more objective, sometimes allegorical, subjects drawn from nature and narrative.

Created while Munch was working primarily in Norway, this print reflects the dark intensity and emotional charge often associated with his Expressionist style, though simplified in form compared to his earlier painted masterpieces. The dramatic juxtaposition of the powerful, predatory tiger and the lumbering bear suggests a metaphorical engagement with natural forces, conflict, or perhaps aspects of the artist’s own psyche projected onto the animal world. While the subject of The Tiger and the Bear is less overtly autobiographical than works like The Scream, the composition maintains the dynamic movement and psychological tension characteristic of Munch's output.

As a key work classified as a print, the technical handling of the lithograph allows for bold contrasts and thick, defining lines central to the graphic arts of the era. The production of prints was essential to Munch’s career, enabling him to widely disseminate his principal themes. This significant piece demonstrates his enduring mastery of the medium and is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to the artist's passing in 1944, Munch’s highly influential works are increasingly moving into the public domain, allowing for greater study and accessibility of these historically important prints.