Edvard Munch - Masterpiece Curations

“The colors live a remarkable life of their own after they have been applied to the canvas.” ~Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch’s (pronunciation) paintings are characterized by their intense emotions and dark colors. Many of his works deal with themes of death, despair, and mental illness.

Edvard Munch Early Life

Munch was born in Norway on December 12, 1863. He was raised in a religious household; his mother was a devout Christian and his father was a doctor. His childhood was marked by tragedy. When he was five years old, his mother died. Tuberculosis took the life of his sister when he was thirteen. These early losses had a profound effect on Munch, and many of his later works would explore the idea of death.

Edvard Munch’s Career

He began his artistic career as a young man, studying at the Royal School of Art and Design in Oslo. He later traveled to Paris, where he was exposed to the work of the Impressionists. This had a major impact on his own painting style and led him to begin experimenting with bold colors and expressive brushstrokes.

The Decline of a Master Artist’s Mental Health

In the 1890s, Munch underwent a mental breakdown. He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and he experienced a number of hallucinations. These experiences would later be reflected in his paintings, such as The Scream and Madonna.

His work was not well-received by the critics, but he found a group of like-minded artists who appreciated it. Together, they formed the “Sturm und Drang” (Storm and Stress) movement, which sought to express the inner turmoil of the human soul. He became friends with the Swedish artist August Strindberg, and the two of them often discussed art and philosophy.

Munch continued to paint and travel throughout his life, despite his mental health struggles. He spent time in Berlin, where he was influenced by the work of the Expressionists. He also visited the United States. While there, his work was exhibited in New York City.

Edvard Munch’s Death

Edvard Munch died in 1944, at the age of 80. He is considered one of the most important artists of the modern era. And his work inspired the Expressionist movement and helped to shape the development of modern art.

Today, Munch’s paintings are some of the most recognizable and valuable in the world. In fact, his famous painting The Scream was sold at auction for $120 million in 2012, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at the time.