Edvard Munch was inventive, driven, and prolific. He created almost two thousand paintings, hundreds of graphic motifs, and thousands of drawings. He also expressed himself through poems, prose, and diaries. His iconic works like The Scream, Madonna, Death in the Sickroom, and other symbols of the 1890s have made him immortal in the history of art.
"Art is not for you!"Edvard had a passion for art since he was young, but his father was not supportive of his dream. He wanted Edvard to be an engineer instead. Edvard tried to please his father and enrolled in engineering college. But after only a year he decided to follow his heart and switched to the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Kristiania, now Oslo.
A gifted and rebellious bohemianEdvard's talent did not go unnoticed in the Norwegian art scene. He debuted at The Autumn Exhibition in 1883, when he was only 20 years old. In 1886, he met author and anarchist Hans Jæger, who was a leader of the Kristiania bohemian community. The bohemians inspired Edvard to challenge himself and to make his art more meaningful and appealing to people. He also challenged the public with his painting The Sick Child, which sparked controversy!
Bravery led to successSome praised The Sick Child as a masterpiece, while others criticized it as unfinished and unworthy of the exhibition. Today it is regarded as Munch's breakthrough. It was in this painting that he showed his independence and originality.
Munch's artistic journey can be summed up in one word: experimentation. He did not care about the established "rules" for good art. He was always trying new techniques in both painting and graphics. Munch was influenced by Henrik Ibsen's plays and explored the themes of love, anxiety, illness, and death in his works. He painted his own emotional and psychological state, creating a unique style that later became known as expressionism. He also painted scenes from the Norwegian countryside, showing his love for nature and farming.
A restless and productive lifeMunch traveled a lot and lived in different European cities. He was active in the cultural and social life of his time. He had many friends and admirers but also faced criticism and hostility. He had relationships with several women, but never married. He suffered from anxiety and alcoholism and had a nervous breakdown in 1908. He recovered and continued to work until his death in 1944. He donated all his works to the city of Oslo, which built a museum in his honor.
Edvard Munch was a visionary artist who dared to express himself and his feelings in a new way. He is one of the most influential and celebrated artists of the modern era.
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