Artwork
Bathing Women
Bathing Women is a charcoal painting by the German Expressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1917, Bathing Women is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Executed during the later phase of his career, the work presents a quiet interior scene in which two nude women share a moment of repose. The composition is held by the Munch Museum, which maintains the artist’s principal collection.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays two women engaged in a simple act of bathing: one seated, the other leaning against her companion. Their relaxed posture and gentle interaction suggest a private intimacy, echoing Munch’s ongoing interest in the psychological dimensions of everyday life and the bodily experience of vulnerability.
Technique & Style
Munch employs loose, fluid brushwork and a muted palette of soft, blended hues. The background, rendered in a pale beige, recedes to emphasize the figures, while the subtle tonal transitions convey a sense of calm. The handling reflects the Expressionist tendency to prioritize emotional resonance over precise detail.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, the principal repository for the artist’s oeuvre in Oslo. It remains part of the museum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed alongside other works that illustrate Munch’s exploration of inner states and his contribution to early 20th‑century Expressionism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
