| (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.
Munch
was born on Dec. 12, 1863, in Løten, 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. |
