Artwork
Melancholy
Melancholy is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the Stenersen Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1911, Melancholy is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to the period when Munch was exploring the psychological dimensions of his subjects, a hallmark of his mature output. It is currently part of the permanent collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays Laura Munch, the artist’s sister, captured in a contemplative, sorrowful pose. The figure’s withdrawn demeanor reflects the broader theme of inner despondency that Munch frequently examined, suggesting a personal connection between familial loss and the universal experience of melancholy.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs loose brushwork and a muted palette characteristic of post‑impressionist tendencies. Munch’s handling of light and color emphasizes emotional resonance over realistic detail, allowing the viewer to sense the subject’s psychological state through tonal modulation and simplified forms.
History & Provenance
Munch, educated at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania (now Oslo), produced Melancholy during a prolific phase of his career. After remaining in the artist’s possession for several decades, the work entered the collection of the Munch Museum, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s effort to represent the breadth of his oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
