Munch, Edvard
(b. Dec. 12, 1863, LЖten, Nor.--d. Jan. 23, 1944, Ekely, near Oslo)
Norwegian painter and printmaker whose intense, evocative treatment of
psychological and emotional themes was a major influence on the
development of German
Expressionism
in the early 20th century. His
painting
The Cry
(1893)
is regarded as an icon of existential anguish.
[Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1994]
Note: The
Edvard Munch article in
Britannica Online
is made available to the general public for a limited time, courtesy of
Encyclopeadia Britannica, Inc.
Photographs by Mark
Harden.
Thanks to Carol Gerten-Jackson's
help in this section.
Munch, Edvard
(1863-1944). A gifted Norwegian painter and printmaker, Edvard
Munch not only was his country's greatest artist, but also played a vital
role in the development of German
expressionism.
His work often included the
symbolic portrayal of such themes as misery, sickness, and death.
The Cry,
probably his most familiar painting, is typical in its anguished expression
of isolation and fear.
-
The Scream (or The Cry)
1893; 150 Kb; Casein/waxed crayon and tempera on paper (cardboard),
35 7/8 x 29";
Nasjonalgalleriet (National Gallery), Oslo
Munch was born on Dec. 12, 1863, in Loten, Norway. He grew up in
Christiania (now Oslo) and studied art under Christian Krohg, a Norwegian
naturalistic painter. Munch's parents, a brother, and a sister died while he
was still young, which probably explains the bleakness and pessimism of much
of his work. Paintings such as
The Sick Child (1886),
Vampire (1893-94), and
Ashes (1894) show his preoccupation with the darker aspects of life.
Munch traveled to Paris in 1885, and his work began to show the influence
of French painters--first, the
impressionists,
and then the
postimpressionists--as well as art nouveau design. Like many young artists
Munch reacted against conventional behavior, and in 1892 he took part in a
controversial exhibit in Berlin. His circle of friends included several
writers, one of whom was the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Munch
designed the sets for several of Ibsen's plays.
Between 1892 and 1908, Munch spent much of his time in Paris and Berlin,
where he became known for his prints--etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts.
After 1910 Munch returned to Norway, where he lived and painted until his
death. In his later paintings Munch showed more interest in nature, and his
work became more colorful and less pessimistic. Munch died in Ekely, near
Oslo, on Jan. 23, 1944. He left many of his works to the city of Oslo, which
built a museum in his honor.
-
Puberty
1895; Oil on canvas, 150 x 110 cm (59 5/8 x 43 1/4 in);
Nasjonalgalleriet (National Gallery), Oslo
-
Death in the Sickroom
c. 1895; Oil on canvas, 59 x 66 in;
National Gallery, Oslo
-
The Dance of Life
1899-1900 (120 Kb); Oil on canvas, 49 1/2 x 75 in;
National Gallery, Oslo
-
The Dead Mother
1899-1900 (130 Kb); Oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 35 3/8 in;
Kunsthalle, Bremen
© 22 Nov 1995,
Nicolas Pioch -
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