Edvard MunchNorwegian, 1863–1944The Kiss IV
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Kiss IV” now? Collection: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Minneapolis, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
The Kiss is a subject that Munch returned to several times from 1895 to 1902. He first explored the motif in a painting and an etching before embarking on this woodcut version, which stresses a more simplified, abstract composition. In this print, Munch cut the figures out of one block of wood, roughly gouging away the faces and hands. Over this he printed a piece of wood with a strong vertical grain in a light shade of grey, making it seem as if the kiss is as elemental as nature itself. The result is an image with a profound resonance, a timeless symbol of intimacy and unity.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Details
- Accession number
- P.79.59
In the catalog
Sources
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
- Image: Minneapolis Institute of Art — © Minneapolis Institute of Art
In the life of Edvard Munch
The whole life1902
The Revolver Incident
After Tulla Larsen's suicide attempt and a mysterious quarrel, Munch shot himself through the hand and was hospitalized. The relationship with Tulla ended, but the artist's mental wellbeing was badly shaken.
1902
"The Frieze of Life" Complete at the Berlin Secession
"The Frieze of Life" was exhibited for the first time in the form the artist had conceived, at the gallery of the Berlin Secession; Munch wrote of the show's "symphonic effect." Here he gained long-standing patrons, Albert Kollmann and Max Linde.
1903
Affair with Eva Mudocci
An affair began with the cellist Evangeline Muddock, who performed under the stage name Eva Mudocci; the relationship was clouded by Munch's increasingly troubled behavior, and they parted.
autumn 1908
Nervous Breakdown and Dr. Jacobson's Clinic
Amid heavy drinking, hallucinations, and persecution mania, Munch entered Daniel Jacobson's clinic in Copenhagen, where he spent about eight months. The treatment stabilized his condition; after his return to Norway in 1909 his painting became lighter and more optimistic.
1912
First American Exhibition
Munch's first exhibition in the United States was held in New York.
