Life and Death (Liv og død)

c. 1902

Edvard Munch

Associated Names
Edvard Munch

Artist, Norwegian, 1863 - 1944

Otto Felsing

Printer, German, 1854 - 1920

A series of bold, sinuous lines dominate the top half of the image, forming the trunk and branches of a tree. Various leaf shapes are spread out along the branches. Two humanoid figures are intertwined with the roots below, extending onto the ground. Lines suggest bodies merging into the earth. The figures have abstract shapes on their heads that could resemble plant foliage or masks. The composition blends tree-like structure with anatomical features.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    The Epstein Family Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 18.6 × 14.5 cm (7 5/16 × 5 11/16 in.)
    plate: 20 × 16 cm (7 7/8 × 6 5/16 in.)
    sheet: 44.6 × 31.3 cm (17 9/16 × 12 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2021.101.13

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Woll 2012, no. 194

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Kaare Berntsen, Oslo, 2 November 1976; to the Epstein Family Collection, Washington; gift to NGA, 2021

Associated Names

Bibliography

2001

  • Woll, Gerd. Edvard Munch: The Complete Graphic Works. New York, 2001: no. 194.

Inscriptions

Not signed. Not dated. "O Felsing Berlin gdr" lower left margin, graphite, printer's hand. "75" lower left margin, graphite, unknown hand.

Markings

"E L S" [Lionel and Sally Epstein] verso, black stamped ink.

Watermarks

None.

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