Self-Portrait with a Cigar

In this self-portrait, Edvard Munch presents himself as a shadowy, almost spectral figure, emerging from a deep, inky blackness. His face, rendered with stark, angular lines, is illuminated from below, casting dramatic shadows that emphasize his gaunt features and intense gaze. He holds a lit cigar, its smoke curling upwards to dissolve into the darkness, a subtle detail that adds to the brooding atmosphere. Created in 1908, a period marked by personal turmoil and his eventual hospitalization, this lithograph captures a moment of raw introspection. The stark contrast between light and shadow, typical of Expressionist printmaking, amplifies the sense of isolation and psychological intensity, inviting viewers to confront the artist's inner state.