Tingletangle

Tingletangle, created by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944 in 1895, is a significant early example of the artist's engagement with graphic arts, demonstrating his masterful ability to fuse technical printing processes with individualized application of color. This piece is classified as a print, executed initially as a lithograph in black ink on ivory wove paper.

Munch, a major figure in art from Norway, often employed graphic techniques to explore the core psychological and emotional themes characteristic of Symbolism and early Expressionism. While lithography is inherently a method designed for mass reproducibility, Munch characteristically subverted its mechanical nature by extensively enriching this specific impression of the print. He achieved this through additions applied using a brush and a broad range of watercolors. The resulting palette includes saturated tones of red, blue, yellow, green, orange-brown, and gray, transforming the standardized black-and-white print into a highly expressive, unique work.

The extensive hand-coloring visible in Tingletangle shows the Norwegian master’s dedication to experimentation and his desire to imbue each piece with unique visual intensity, even within an editioned set of prints. Munch viewed his prints as crucial to disseminating his emotional iconography across Europe, and this piece represents a pivotal moment in his technical development. The work, which offers profound insight into the innovative printmaking practices of the late nineteenth century, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.