Edvard Munch's Anxiety Distinctively Visual

The National Gallery of Art, located in Washington D.C, currently displays an exhibit called Edvard Munch: A Color in Context that showcases the Norwegian painter’s colorful and vigorous artwork. Edvard Munch’s Anxiety is amongst the many artworks that are currently being displayed. The artwork was created in 1896 as a color woodcut in black and red with hand touching on wove paper. It is located on the left side, right before entering the second portion of the room and can only be seen from one side because it is hanging on the wall. Munch’s Anxiety depicts a group of people leaving work, who collectively share the same state of angst. His choice of color, composition, and overall style contribute to the evocation of a deep state of anxiety
The artist creates a strong sense of radiation through his color choice. The artwork is created with the colors red and black. There is a contrasting effect between the very bright, but washed out red and the dark black, which depicts a sense of conflict that exists within the scenery. The artwork is divided by two sections, where the horizon lies at about two-third of the composition. At the bottom, the artists depicts the group of people within a very dark, black background. The figures appear to be absorbed by the darkness, allowing only the brightest parts of the figures to stand out, especially their faces. On the top of the artwork, there is a red section with white wavy lines going through it horizontally. A white section separates the black and the red sections. This produces a strong sense of division, although there is a desire for harmony as the group of people stick closely
During the time that Munch created Anxiety, Western Europe was experiencing these same emotions that Munch depicts in his artwork. He reflects what was actually happening in the modern world. This was the period before World War I, a period in which technology was advancing and industrialization was increasing. Simultaneously, new ideas were being developed and the traditional way of life was getting lost in amidst all the new changes. Although these changes led to an increase in economic success, the rapid change left Europe in a state of confusion and incapability of understanding how to cope with these changes. The result was a cohesive nationwide state of angst, which ultimately provoked World War I. This is exactly what Munch depicts in his artwork Anxiety. Edvard Munch’s artwork Anxiety reflects a deep state of angst that is parallel to modern life at the time that the artwork was created. He evokes anxious emotions caused by terror, horror, death, and isolation through his choice of color, composition, and style. His artwork depicts not only the perspective of members of society but also his own, and allows the viewer to understand that through the strong sense of