[en] The effect of the metal-insulator phase transition on the X-ray K-absorption spectrum of V in V₂O₃ was measured by synchrotron radiation. A different behavior of the transition to 3d vs 4p states in the two phases was observed. These results have been correlated with the change in the screening of the 1s hole due to the variation of the dielectric constant epsilon(q,ω) in the two phases. (author)