Artwork
Madonna
Madonna is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1898, Madonna is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to the collection of the Munch Museum and exemplifies the painter’s turn toward religious subject matter during his post‑Impressionist phase.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a nude female figure, her long dark hair bound with a red headband, eyes closed and head tilted upward. Rendered from the waist to the shoulders with arms raised, the pose evokes a devotional gesture, suggesting a secular reinterpretation of the traditional Madonna archetype.
Technique & Style
Munch employs a muted palette for the flesh, using delicate shading to convey softness and vulnerability. The background is a saturated deep blue that frames the warm skin tones, while the overall handling of form reflects the artist’s expressive, emotive approach characteristic of his later work.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s focus on preserving the full range of Munch’s output, from early symbolist pieces to his mature explorations of spirituality.
Context
Madonna was produced during a period when Munch was experimenting with religious motifs, integrating personal experience of loss and illness into a broader symbolic language. The work aligns with his ongoing development of a highly personal, expressionist style that diverged from strict post‑Impressionist conventions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
