Artwork
Olga Buhre
Olga Buhre is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Technique & Style
The overall tonality is subdued, aligning with Munch’s late-19th-century Symbolist tendencies rather than the brighter palette of his later works.
The portrait employs oil paint on a linen support, with the canvas dimensions recorded at 73.4 cm in height and 59.4 cm in width. The handling reflects Munch’s characteristic approach to portraiture, emphasizing psychological intensity over detailed realism. The composition focuses tightly on the sitter’s head and shoulders, isolating her against a neutral ground.
Brushwork appears fluid yet controlled, with subtle tonal variations that model form without resorting to linear definition. The overall tonality is subdued, aligning with Munch’s late-19th-century Symbolist tendencies rather than the brighter palette of his later works.
History & Provenance
Edvard Munch created the oil painting Olga Buhre in 1891. Executed on canvas, the work measures 73.4 cm in height and 59.4 cm in width. The portrait depicts a woman and is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located.
While specific details regarding its original commission or intermediate ownership history are not provided in the available records, the painting has been featured in several exhibitions, including "Edvard Munch: portretter," "Munch og Frankrike," and the commemorative "Munch 150."
The painting Olga Buhre is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the work is confirmed as part of this national gallery's holdings. The piece has been included in several exhibitions, specifically "Edvard Munch: portretter," "Munch og Frankrike," and "Munch 150."
Overview
Created in 1896, Olga Buhre is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Executed in a post‑impressionist idiom, the work presents a solitary female figure rendered in a dark dress against a loosely defined backdrop of swirling browns, reds and greens. The painting belongs to the permanent collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows a woman standing still, her pale face illuminated against the dark garment she wears. In her right hand she clutches a small, indeterminate object, suggesting a personal or narrative detail that remains ambiguous. The composition’s stillness and the subdued expression convey a quiet introspection, characteristic of Munch’s interest in inner emotional states.
Context
Munch’s personal history of illness and family loss informed his emotive visual language, a concern that surfaces even in this relatively restrained portrait. While living in Kristiania, he was active in a bohemian circle that encouraged experimentation beyond academic conventions, leading to the post‑impressionist style evident in Olga Buhre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
