Existing comment:
Self-Portrait
1895
As important as vibrant colors were to Munch, the absence of color plays an equally critical role. Black provides stark contrast to the creamy-colored head and skeletal arm, which are the only discernible forms in this composition. The x-ray, a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, was discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. With this new wavelength that could penetrate the skin, expose the bones beneath, and print that image on a plate, people realized how limited human senses truly are. This discovery furthered theosophical notions that there are forces beyond what can be perceived. |