The Prints of Edvard Munch, Mirror of His Life
An Exhibition of Prints from the Collection of Sarah G. and Lionel C. Epstein
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
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. His work is characterized by a profound exploration of the human psyche, anxiety, and existential questions. Munch's artistic journey was pivotal in the development of modern art, and his influence remains evident today.







An Exhibition of Prints from the Collection of Sarah G. and Lionel C. Epstein
Published to accompany an exhibition of the same name at the National Academy of Design in Norway, Edvard Munch and Harald Sohlberg: Landscapes of the Mind compares the two symbolist painters' landscape works. Sadly, Sohlberg is not as recognizable a name to U.S. audiences as is Munch, but in placing his work opposite that of his countryman, a rich understanding of the psychic arena in which each moved emerges. The mostly color reproductions of the art in the exhibition are of remarkable quality.
For Edvard Munch (1863-1944), painting was an act of self-liberation. His treatments of fear, desperation, and death still exert a powerful visual and psychological effect on modern viewers. Of all Munch's paintings, "The Scream" (1893), representing a figure tortured by horror, is the most well-known-and certainly one of the most expressive. The artist reflected his innermost feelings in his work: "In reality, my art is a free confession, an attempt to clarify to myself my own relation to life..." Although Edvard Munch cannot be clearly identified with any single movement, he is deemed a pioneer of Expressionism.
The book offers a deep exploration of Edvard Munch's thoughts through a collection of his letters, drafts, notes, and literary texts. It provides valuable insights into the artist's mindset and creative process, enhancing the understanding of his most iconic images. Readers will discover the connections between Munch's written reflections and his visual art, revealing the emotional and intellectual depths that shaped his work.
This text is dedicated to Edvard Munch's vast and fascinating oeuvre of works on paper. Featured in beautiful colour reproductions are key images related to well-known prints and drawings, as well as lesser known works, such as childhood drawings and caricatures.
Munch begann in einer Zeit zu malen, als die Kunst dem Kult der schönen Form huldigte. Doch Munch interessierte die dunkle Seite der Seele, ihn beschäftigte die Entfremdung, Sündhaftigkeit und Verwundbarkeit des Menschen. In seinen Bildern griff er die Farbigkeit der damaligen Kunst auf, verlieh ihr jedoch neue Dimensionen des Gefühlsausdrucks. Der große Einfluss des Norwegers auf seine Zeitgenossen in Österreich und Deutschland wird erstmals in diesem Buch thematisiert. Ausgewiesene Experten analysieren Munchs Bedeutung für die Kunst des Expressionismus im deutschsprachigen Raum. Munchs Impulse in einzelnen Gebieten, etwa der Druckgrafik, werden ebenso gewürdigt wie die stilistischen und thematischen Leitmotive seines Werks, seine Selbstporträts und Stadtszenen, seine Landschaften und Paarbilder sowie Darstellungen vom Künstler und seinem Modell. Exzellente Farbreproduktionen nicht nur von bekannten Hauptwerken wie „Der Schrei“, „Madonna“ und „Der Kuss“ machen aus diesem Band eine einmalige Einführung in das Werk Edvard Munchs, die zugleich wichtige neue Denkansätze zur Beschäftigung mit dem europäischen Expressionismus bereithält.
In this book Munch's own soul is laid bare through the translation and analysis of diaries, literary sketches and letters which have never been published in the English language. Preserved in the archives of the Munch Museum in Oslo to whom they were presented by the artist himself, these writings give a unique insight into one of the most fascinating artistic minds of the twentieth century. Munch was as influenced by the literary and philosophical context of turn-of-the-century Europe as he was by his artistic milieu, and by his own admission, several of his major works started life as literary sketches.Beautifully illustrated with drawings, paintings, and contemporary photography, this book presents an intimate portrait of the artist's life - the early death of his mother, his childhood illnesses, his tragic love affair - through his own philosophical and literary representation of it. Interweaving Munch's artistic and literary experiences these texts provide a commentary on the artist's works, on his own personal philosophy, on the work of contemporaries (Van Gogh among others), and on the sensibilities of his friends and family. Expertly contextualised by Poul Erik Tojner In His Own Words brings the world of the artist vividly to life.
For Edvard Munch (1863-1944), painting was an act of self-liberation. His treatments of fear, desperation, and death still exert a powerful visual and psychological effect on modern viewers. Of all Munch's paintings, The Scream (1893), representing a figure tortured by horror, is the most well-known-and certainly one of the most expressive. The artist reflected his innermost feelings in his work: In reality, my art is a free confession, an attempt to clarify to myself my own relation to life... Although Edvard Munch cannot be clearly identified with any single movement, he is deemed a pioneer of Expressionism.
The author discusses the art and life of Edvard Munch.
The early masterpieces of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, pioneer of modern art, who developed a Nordic variant of modern painting.