Vignette: Amaryllis

The delicate composition Vignette: Amaryllis, created by Edvard Munch in 1908, is a significant example of his profound skill in printmaking. Executed as a lithograph, this work captures a single, dramatic flower, the Amaryllis, rendered with a sensitive control over line and tone. Munch utilized the lithographic process to achieve a subtle, almost ethereal quality, allowing the soft, diffused shadows to define the petals and stem against the blank expanse of the paper.

This particular work falls within the pivotal 1908-09 period, a time of profound transition for the Norwegian artist. Having experienced years of intense psychological distress, Munch sought treatment in Copenhagen starting in late 1908, a period often characterized by a shift towards subjects of greater calm and order, contrasting with the high-strung Expressionism of his earlier career. While Munch is most globally recognized for his intense psychological dramas, pieces like Vignette: Amaryllis confirm his commitment to utilizing graphic arts for diverse explorations, including quieter, contemplative studies of nature.

The classification of this impression as a print underscores Munch's reputation as one of Modernism’s great masters of woodcut and lithography. Even when depicting a static object, Munch infuses the image with emotional weight; the flower is not merely botanical but feels isolated and exposed as a central vignette. The stark framing emphasizes the vulnerability and singular beauty of the bloom. This refined lithograph, which testifies to the technical mastery achieved by the artist, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, ensuring its continued study and visibility alongside other major Munch prints from this crucial era.