Edvard Munch - The Scream Milan
Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter and printmaker whose intensely evocative treatment of psychological themes built upon some of the main tenets of late 19th-century Symbolism and greatly influenced German Expressionism in the early 20th century. Born on December 12, 1863, in Løten, Norway, Munch grew up in a household periodically afflicted by life’s darker sides, including the early loss of his mother and sister to tuberculosis, which deeply affected his upbringing and later work.
Munch's education in art began at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, where he adopted a bohemian lifestyle and was introduced to the ideas of the Nabis and the Symbolist movement. His early works were influenced by his reflections on life, death, fear, love, and melancholy. Among these, "The Sick Child" (1885-1886) stands out as a breakthrough, marking a departure from impressionism to a new style that expressed emotional and psychological states.
The most famous of Munch's works is "The Scream" (1893), which has become an icon of existential angst and human anxiety. This painting is part of his series "The Frieze of Life," a thematic cycle depicting love, angst, and death, showcasing Munch's interest in portraying the universal anxieties of the human condition. The series includes other notable works such as "Madonna", "The Dance of Life", and "Death in the Sickroom".
Munch's work is characterized by its innovative use of color, its exploration of symbolism, and its expression of deep psychological themes. He experimented with various techniques, media, and surfaces, which included painting, lithography, etching, and woodcut, making him a pioneer in the development of graphic art as a significant medium.
Throughout his life, Munch faced numerous personal struggles, including a breakdown in 1908 which led him to seek treatment through a change in lifestyle and a temporary abstention from alcohol. Despite these challenges, he continued to work and produce a vast body of work that remained influential throughout the 20th century and beyond.
Munch's art was not fully appreciated in Norway until later in his career, but he gained international recognition and his works were exhibited across Europe. His impact on the development of German Expressionism was profound, with his exploration of psychological themes and use of expressive means of representation resonating with artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde.
Edvard Munch passed away on January 23, 1944, in Ekely, near Oslo. He left behind a legacy that has continued to influence and inspire artists around the world. His exploration of emotional and psychological content paved the way for the Expressionist movement and solidified his position as a pivotal figure in the transition from the symbolic to the modernist era. Munch's body of work remains a testament to his belief in the power of art to express the inner life of the human psyche, making him one of the most significant artists of the early 20th century.
Born: 12 December 1863, Ådalsbruk, Norway
Died: 23 January 1944 (age 80 years), Oslo, Norway
Periods: Expressionism, Symbolism, Modern art, Post-Impressionism
On the 80th anniversary of his death, Palazzo Reale and Arthemisia in collaboration with the MUNCH Museum in Oslo, present a prestigious cultural event, a large monographic exhibition dedicated to one of the most loved and popular artists of the last century: Edvard Munch.
Throughout his artistic career Edvard Munch explored questions of everlasting existential significance and challenged the expressions of art. In this broad survey exhibition, Munch's art will be explored from 1880 until his death in 1944. The exhibition will comprise 100 works including paintings, drawings and prints all coming from the MUNCH Museum in Oslo.
An exhibition by the Municipality of Milan - Culture Area | Palazzo Reale | Arthemisia in collaboration with the MUNCH.
Curated by Patricia Berman.
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