How to Learn About Edvard Munch and His Art

Edvard Munch is the Norwegian artist popularly known for "The Scream." But Munch's works consist of far more than that portrait of angst.

Impressionists are known for playing with light and color almost for its own sake, but Munch is better characterized as an expressionist: His artwork is intended to evoke or express mood or emotion, often by deviating from a realistic/objective portrayal of subject matter. To me, expressionism does in a heavy manner to emotions what caricature does lightly with portraiture: It attempts to distill the essence of a particular mood, and then to convey it undiluted.

Munch's life was, more so than most, peppered by such contrasts as illness versus health, poverty versus extravagance, and isolation versus gregariousness. He experienced both the pangs of love and the unforgivingness of the premature deaths of a sister and his mother. All of this is reflected in his work.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Inquisitiveness
• Access to Books
• Access to the Internet

1. 
   Death in the Sickroom

   See Munch's work in person. This is the most difficult step and isn't essential, but there are various museums around the world that boast works by Munch (see Resources below).

2. 
   The Dance of Life

   See Munch's work on the Web. My favorite Munch site is "The Dance of Life Site." This online gallery is arranged by theme, and one page lists various themes on the left margin (see Resources below).

3. 
   Lady From the Sea

   Read articles and books. Among the many compilations/illustrations of Munch's works, there is also "Edvard Munch: Behind the Scream," a recent biography by Sue Prideaux. As a non-painter, I found it particularly insightful for its detailing the act and method of painting.

4. 
   The Vampire

   Watch "Edvard Munch" (1974), a film about the artist that Ingmar Bergman called it a "work of genius."

Tips & Warnings

• Munch's life was plagued by illness, both of himself and of family members. Note how this is exhibited in his work.
• What does Munch say to you about love, death, and anxiety?
• Don't take "The Scream" as summarizing Munch in toto—as you will see, he also produced more celebratory and warmer works.

Resources

• Museums
• The Dance of Life Site
• WebMuseum
• Olga's Gallery (large)
• Film