Artwork
Portrait of an Old Man
Portrait of an Old Man is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Edvard Munch painted Portrait of an Old Man in 1907 with oil on canvas. The work is part of the Munch Museum’s collection and presents a solitary, elderly figure rendered in a muted palette of purples and grays.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is an aged man, bald and bearded, dressed in a dark jacket. His direct gaze and solemn expression convey a sense of introspection, echoing Munch’s lifelong interest in the inner lives of his subjects.
Technique & Style
Munch employs loose, textured brushwork that leaves the paint’s surface visible, creating a tactile quality reminiscent of impasto. The handling of form and color aligns with post‑impressionist tendencies toward emotional expression over strict realism.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when Munch was exploring psychological themes, the portrait entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display as part of the artist’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian:; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
