Book excerpt: Published to coincide with the major exhibition at the Royal Academy, London, November 2020 - February 2021 Tracey Emin (b. 1963) has long said that Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was the artist who had inspired her the most. In her formative years as an artist, it was the expressionism of Munch's paintings and his uncompromising will to explore the complexity and vulnerability of the human condition that attracted her. This book sheds light on the impact of Munch's art on Emin's artistic approach and her expressive repertoire in paintings, sculptures, textiles and neons. It explores the themes of grief, longing and loneliness, especially related to the ageing process and childlessness. This highlights the similarity between the two artists, as well as the difference between a female and male approach to difficult subjects related to the darker side of human existence, which has changed dramatically from the 20th century until today.