Ottilie Schiefler
1907
Edvard Munch, the master of existential angst behind The Scream, takes a surprisingly gentle approach in this 1907 portrait of Ottilie Schiefler. Rendered in delicate, reddish-orange strokes on textured paper, the young girl stares directly at the viewer with a quiet, almost haunting intensity that is classic Munch. Unlike his more famous screaming figures, this sketch captures a moment of pure stillness, showing the artist's softer side while drawing the daughter of his close friend and printmaker, Gustav Schiefler. It’s a rare glimpse into the personal life of a man usually consumed by darker themes.