Comment:
Interpreting this absurd and incomprehensible motif has been a challenge for many. Nor do Munch’s notes or letters seem to provide any enlightening comments about this giant and the strange device he is holding. The miniature human figures that cling to it attempting to scramble upward might bring to mind Munch’s later motif "The Human Mountain". It may also be associated with Nietzsche’s philosophy, which was popular in Munch’s circles during the 1890s. There is a clear connection with the drawing T 1687-recto, though that doesn’t help us very much. This continues to be one of the most puzzling motifs in Munch’s art.