Auction Wednesday December 12 2018 at 19:30
Munch, Edvard(1863-1944)
After the Conversation

Woodcut printed in black on medium heavy cream paper
Sheet: 622x467 mm Image: 475x350 mm
Signed in pencil lower right: Edv Munch

1913
Woll 469.

Estimate
NOK 100,000–150,000USD 11,800–17,600EUR 10,300–15,400

Auctioned Wednesday December 12 2018 at 19:30

Hammer price NOK 90,000

LITERATURE: Gerd Woll: Edvard Munch – The complete graphic Works, Oslo 2012, cat.no. 469.

The woman turns away from the man after the conversation in this woodcut, presumably offended. In the exhibition catalogue from Zürich in 1922 (ref. cat.no. at this auction) the print was dated 1913-14. In 1914 Munch made an intaglio print with a similar motif, with a woman turning away from a man, called "Conversation", Woll 474 and an intaglio print with the woman only, called "Offended Lady", Woll 475.

In many woodcuts Edvard Munch managed to strip an expression down to its bare minimum, making a striking comment on the relationship between man and woman. By getting rid of all minor details, he was left with a concentrated vision of the human condition, which makes a powerful impression.