Munch: Art Masters Series

Yet another stunning graphic biography originally published Europe, in this case Munch’s native Norway, is now released in English. Norwegian artist Kverneland tells the story of Munch’s relationship with August Strindberg, his abiding passion for the women who served as his muses, and his succession of great masterworks, including The Sick Child, Madonna, and, of course, The Scream. Kverneland’s treatment—which took him seven years to complete—is a fantastic visual spectacle, mixing vividly colored caricature with cubism, often in the same panel. Interspersed with black-and-white, monochromatic, and full-color illustrations are photographs featuring Kverneland’s many narrative intrusions. The story itself moves among narrators: Kverneland attempts to tell it exclusively in the words of those who experienced it firsthand. The result is a brilliant graphic biography that uses a distinctive visual style to explore the work of a great artist. (May)