Artwork
Life: Left Part
Life: Left Part is a tempera painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1910, Life: Left Part is a tempera painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo. It presents a quiet outdoor scene populated by three figures, rendered in muted greens and browns that convey a calm, reflective atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a hat‑clad man standing beside a tree, a woman in a blue dress seated on the ground, and a third figure reclined in the grass. All three gaze upward, suggesting a shared focus or contemplation, while the natural setting reinforces a sense of introspection and quiet communion.
Technique & Style
Munch employed tempera on canvas, allowing for loose, expressive brushwork that softens edges and blends colors. The palette is restrained, dominated by earth tones that enhance the painting’s subdued mood. This approach aligns with his post‑impressionist interest in conveying psychological states rather than precise detail.
History & Provenance
The painting reflects Munch’s early 20th‑century period, following his studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Oslo and his involvement with contemporary literary circles. After its creation, the work entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains part of the artist’s permanent collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
