Edvard Munch is renowned for his “soul paintings”—haunting depictions of human anguish. His world was tainted by a family history of mental illness, including his own: macabre visions of ghouls and death intruded on his childhood. In 1893, Munch painted The Scream after walking at sunset, saying he’d “heard the enormous, infinite scream of nature.” It is less known that the artist sometimes received commissions for portraits and brought more balance to their execution. After his mental breakdown in 1908, Munch began painting close friends in a new, optimistic style of vibrant color. This exhibition explores his skill as a portraitist. —Elena Clavarino