The Kiss IV

  • Artists:

    • Edvard Munch
    • M. W. Lassally (Founder, printer i.a. in duplication - assumed uncertain)
  • Creation date: Platen utført 1902; trykket etter 1906
  • Object type: Print

Not on display

About

The kissing couple is monumentally placed at the centre of the picture. The figures are considerably simplified and almost merge with one another. The motif expresses harmony, empathy and warmth.

The woodcut has been printed in black and a delicate grey-green tone from two blocks – a figure block that has been worked with gouges and a fretsaw, and a seemingly unworked background block with a vertical grain pattern. Munch was very interested in the visual effect of woodgrain and the textures it produced. In addition to being decorative elements, woodgrain and branch knots added life and movement to the picture.

There are four variations of the woodcut on this theme. The Kiss I and II were produced in 1897 and were among Munch’s earliest woodcuts. The Kiss III was created in 1898 and The Kiss IV in 1902. In each case the artist varies the nuances of the background by using different blocks that have been somewhat modified.

Munch painted this motif several times between 1892 and 1897. The version in the National Museum dates from 1892. The subject was first executed in print in an etching from 1895. Munch frequently returned to his previous motifs in order to explore them in other media. The characteristics of the various media enabled him to seek new expressive possibilities.

We do not know when the National Gallery acquired The Kiss IV.

Text: Møyfrid Tveit

From "Edvard Munch in the National Museum", Nasjonalmuseet 2008, ISBN 978-82-8154-035-54

Artists/producers

  • Edvard Munch

    Visual artist, Painter, Graphic artist, Photographer, Drawing artist

    Born 12.12.1863 in Løten, Hedmark, death 23.01.1944 in Oslo

  • M. W. Lassally

Work info

Creation date:
Platen utført 1902; trykket etter 1906
Other titles:
Der Kuss IV (GER)
Kyss IV (NOR)
Kys (NOR)
Object type:
Materials and techniques:
Tontresnitt på papir
Material:
Keywords:
Classification:
Inventory no.:
NG.K&H.A.19517
Cataloguing level:
Single object
Litteratur:
  • Hansen, Vibeke Waallann, et al. Edvard Munch i Nasjonalmuseet: en samlet oversikt. Redigert av Ustvedt, Øystein, et al. Oslo: Nasjonalmuseet, 2022. kat.nr. 160.
  • Fredheim, Arnt Normann, et al. 1905-1935 Ekspresjon!: Edvard Munch - tysk og norsk kunst i tre tiår. Oslo: Munchmuseet, 2005. kat.nr. 180.
  • Woll, Gerd. Edvard Munch: the complete graphic works. New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc. Publ., 2001. kat.nr. 204.
  • Helliesen, Sidsel. Norsk grafikk gjennom 100 år. Oslo: Aschehoug, 2000. 51.
  • Jones, Liv Inger. Norsk grafikk til 1970. Kobberstikk- og håndtegningsamlingens kataloger. Oslo: Nasjonalgalleriet, 1972. kat.nr. 65.
  • Schiefler, Gustav. Verzeichnis des graphischen Werks Edvard Munchs bis 1906. Berlin: Bruno Cassirer, 1907. kat.nr. 102 D.
Inscriptions:
Primary, Inscription: Kys [blyant] // Edv Munch [blyant]
Secondary, Stamp: [Verso:] NASJONALGALLERIET // [Sirkulært stempel fra Nasjonalgalleriet; utydelig]
Acquisition:
Acquisition details unknown
Owner and collection:
Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections
Photo:
Ivarsøy, Dag Andre
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