Two People. The Lonely Ones (To mennesker. De ensomme)

Two People. The Lonely Ones (To mennesker. De ensomme) is a profound graphic work created by Edvard Munch in 1894. Executed as a drypoint print, this piece reflects Munch's ongoing exploration of human isolation, psychological tension, and the themes central to his development as a Norwegian Symbolist artist. The precise technique of drypoint, which involves scratching directly into a metal plate, allows for deep, velvety blacks and sharp, emotive lines, lending the composition an immediate, brooding quality.

The composition centers on two figures, a man and a woman, who stand side-by-side but appear emotionally separated. They gaze out toward a distant horizon or the sea, a common trope in Munch’s work used to symbolize the vastness of existential dread or unattainable longing. The starkness of the medium emphasizes the shadow and weight surrounding the isolated individuals. Although the drawing was created in 1894, it was published as part of a significant graphic series in 1895, marking a critical moment in the artist’s full embrace of prints as a primary means of disseminating his powerful imagery.

This piece perfectly embodies the late nineteenth-century movement toward psychological expressionism. As a leading figure in Norwegian art, Munch influenced subsequent generations by focusing intently on internal emotional states rather than external realities. This impression of Two People. The Lonely Ones is housed in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, where it serves as a key example of Munch’s foundational contributions to modern graphic art. Today, high-quality images of many of the artist’s works are frequently available through public domain initiatives, assisting scholarly research into the period 1894, published 1895.