These two digital images reflect self-portraits Munch created 13 years apart. The one at right, done in 1908-9, was drawn for this site in pencil, in New York, on 30 May 1998, because it looked interesting and because of the note about it on the wall plaque beside the work, stating that Munch was "Smoking his last cigarette before trying to quit, to regain health harmed by a breakdown." A year later, I was in Norway, to attend a technical meeting (TET99) in Gjovik, and decided to spend a day in Oslo before going home. I had hoped to draw sculpture in the Vigeland sculpture garden but the weather was too wet, so I went to the National Gallery instead, to see what might be worth drawing there. Among the things I saw was the Munch 1895 oil self-portrait reflected at left. Noticing that he also depicted himself smoking a cigarette in it, I immediately drew it, or at least the portion of it reflected here. This 13 June 1999 drawing mirrors his more confidant and debonoir appearance in the earlier self-portrait. Perhaps all the art he produced between 1895 and 1908 wore him out.......
