Artwork
Man Ploughing with a White Horse
Man Ploughing with a White Horse is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1919, Man Ploughing with a White Horse is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a lone figure guiding a white horse that pulls a plough across an open field, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and scattered trees. The composition reflects Munch’s shift toward expressing inner states rather than literal representation.
Subject & Meaning
The central scene shows a solitary man, dressed in dark attire, walking behind a white horse as it furrows the soil. The stark contrast between the figure’s somber clothing and the bright animal underscores a tension between human labor and the natural world, inviting contemplation of isolation, perseverance, and the rhythm of everyday toil.
Technique & Style
Executed with a loose, expressive hand, the painting employs bold brushstrokes and a vivid palette. Warm earth tones dominate the ground, while cooler blues convey the sky’s atmosphere, creating a dynamic interplay of light and color. This approach aligns with Munch’s post‑impressionist phase, emphasizing emotional resonance over precise naturalistic detail.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to preserving the breadth of Munch’s output, particularly pieces that illustrate his evolution toward psychological and symbolic content during the early twentieth century.
Context
Painted shortly after World War I, the piece emerges from a period when Munch was deepening his exploration of human experience through simplified forms. The agricultural motif, rendered with expressive vigor, mirrors broader artistic trends of the era that favored subjective interpretation over strict realism, situating the work within both personal and contemporary artistic dialogues.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
