Meaning: The quote provided is from the renowned Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. In this quote, Munch reflects on his artistic process and the intention behind his famous series of paintings, "The Frieze of Life." Through his words, Munch offers insight into his creative approach and the emotional depth that he sought to convey through his art.

Munch's reference to "painting colors and lines and forms seen in quickened mood" suggests a deeply personal and emotive connection to his subject matter. It indicates that his artistic expression was not merely about capturing a physical representation of the world, but rather about translating the inner emotional experience onto the canvas. This ties into the broader themes of symbolism and expressionism that are often associated with Munch's work, where the artist sought to convey the subjective and emotional reality rather than objective reality.

The comparison Munch draws between his artistic process and a phonograph is particularly illuminating. By likening his paintings to a phonograph, Munch hints at his desire to imbue his art with a sense of resonance and emotional intensity. Much like a phonograph captures and reproduces sound vibrations, Munch aimed to capture and amplify the emotional vibrations of his own mood through his paintings. This analogy underscores the artist's aspiration to evoke a visceral response from the viewer, as if the mood itself were reverberating through the artwork.

"The Frieze of Life" is a series of paintings created by Munch between 1893 and 1917, and it is considered one of his most significant and influential bodies of work. The series is renowned for its exploration of profound human experiences such as love, anxiety, death, and existential angst. Munch's quote sheds light on the origins of this series, revealing that his intention was to encapsulate and magnify the emotional intensity of these fundamental aspects of human existence.

Munch's artistic vision was deeply rooted in his own experiences and inner turmoil. His childhood was marked by tragedy, including the early deaths of his mother and sister, as well as his own struggles with mental and emotional instability. These personal traumas undoubtedly informed his artistic sensibility and the raw, emotive quality of his work. In "The Frieze of Life," Munch delved into the depths of human emotion, presenting a raw and unflinching portrayal of the human condition.

Throughout the series, Munch employed a distinctive visual language characterized by bold colors, contorted figures, and expressive, swirling brushwork. These formal elements, combined with the thematic richness of the series, contributed to the powerful impact of his art. The quote provided offers a glimpse into Munch's deliberate artistic choices, emphasizing the deliberate fusion of form and emotion in his work.

In conclusion, Edvard Munch's quote encapsulates his deeply personal and emotive approach to art-making, shedding light on the origins of his iconic series, "The Frieze of Life." Through his analogy of painting as a means of making mood vibrate like a phonograph, Munch reveals his aspiration to capture and amplify the emotional resonances of human experience in his art. This quote serves as a poignant testament to Munch's enduring legacy as an artist who fearlessly delved into the depths of human emotion and existential angst, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate with audiences to this day.