In this episode, we’ll be taking a closer look at the 1896 painting; Parisian Model by Edvard Munch and other Art at the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum in Tromso. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
I recently visited Munch’s house, where he painted his Girls on a Bridge series. I posted the video just a week or so ago, so make sure to take a look so that you can get an idea of where he lived and the area. “Paris Model,” acquired from Charlotte and Christian Mustad in 1959 and fully accessioned in 1970, stands as a testament to Munch’s variety as well as artistry. Painted in the same year as his renowned “Scream,” and it reflects a more “traditional” style, in my opinion, yet unmistakably Munch. The vivid red colour makes it a strikingly beautiful piece of art. I really remember the red, when I think about standing in front of this painting. Also, it’s next to a window where the red mixes with the light of Tromso, famous for it’s midnight sun. It’s a magical painting and a magical place.
Edvard Munch, born on December 12, 1863, and died on January 23, 1944, was a Norwegian painter known for his significant contribution to Western art. Among his notable works is “The Scream,” created in 1893. The Northern Norwegian Art Museum proudly houses several remarkable pieces by this great artist.
Munch’s life was marked by illness, bereavement, and the challenges of inheriting a family mental condition. Studying at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania (now Oslo), he adopted a kind of bohemian lifestyle. Inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s plays on existential challenges, you may have heard particularly of his most famous; “A Doll’s House,” Munch explored themes like death, love, sexuality, jealousy, and anxiety in his early works. Some themes, such as ones that we clearly see in works like Death in the Sickroom and The Sick Child, were rooted in personal experiences tied to his mother and sister’s illnesses and untimely deaths. Despite growing fame and wealth, Munch’s emotional state remained precarious.
Established in 1985 as a foundation, the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum (NNKM) caters to the regions of Troms, Finnmark, Nordland, and Svalbard. Its extensive collection, spanning from the 1600s to the present, comprises over 2,225 works by various artists.
By Anthony King (c)