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Edvard Munch: An Inner Life
A renowned expert on Edvard Munch delivers this wonderfully illustrated volume on the life and work of the great artist.
Edvard Munch’s paintings have maintained their captivating hold on audiences for over one hundred years, with The Scream being among the most recognizable and distinct works of modern art. In this accessible guide to the artist, art historian Oystein Ustvedt tells the story of how Munch became one of the most celebrated artists in the world. Ustvedt conducts a thorough visual analysis of Munch’s paintings, examining how he painted emotions in a way that had not been seen before and unpacking why his images have remained so significant. This study is paired with a revealing discussion of Munch’s turbulent life―from a childhood marked by the death of his mother and sister, to his adult life spent in France and Germany, as well as the mysterious saga that left Munch with a gunshot wound after a breakup.
Full of rarely seen images from Munch’s archive, as well as fascinating insight into his life and work, Edvard Munch presents a welcome opportunity to get to know Norway’s most famous artist.
Edvard Munch’s paintings have maintained their captivating hold on audiences for over one hundred years, with The Scream being among the most recognizable and distinct works of modern art. In this accessible guide to the artist, art historian Oystein Ustvedt tells the story of how Munch became one of the most celebrated artists in the world. Ustvedt conducts a thorough visual analysis of Munch’s paintings, examining how he painted emotions in a way that had not been seen before and unpacking why his images have remained so significant. This study is paired with a revealing discussion of Munch’s turbulent life―from a childhood marked by the death of his mother and sister, to his adult life spent in France and Germany, as well as the mysterious saga that left Munch with a gunshot wound after a breakup.
Full of rarely seen images from Munch’s archive, as well as fascinating insight into his life and work, Edvard Munch presents a welcome opportunity to get to know Norway’s most famous artist.
- GenresArtNonfictionBiography
224 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 4, 2022
While Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” is known around the world, most of his work is not. As the text and photos show, Munch was ahead of his time in content and style. The established art world of the 1880’s & 90’s saw his work as “unfinished” and his content vulgar.
As you follow the text and reproductions you see his work change and grow. You see him experiment with new forms and styles, wood cuts, fauve colors and photography.
His portraits were not the formal ones of his time. There are no titans of industry here, no heavily bejeweled females or members of a royal family. He painted friends (one with a cigarette in his mouth) and laboring people. His nudes were very different from those that merely entice: p. 37 “Puberty” shows teenage uncertainty; p. 76 has two surprising (especially for 1895) lithographs of males ogling/fondling a naked female; p. 125 “bathing Men” - even today you don't often see male nudes.classical style) There are many self-portraits, not only paintings and drawings, but also photos.
In his different periods he re-worked his early themes. One example is “The Sick Child” for which two of the 6 known renderings are included in the book. Another theme is “The Kiss” for which there are several examples of both paintings and woodcuts. Other themes are “Dance of Life”and “Girls on the Bridge.”
In later life he purchased Ekely, an 11 acre farm. His content drew more from country life. As you can see from the color prints his style changed too. Longer brush strokes and lighter colors produced a more expressionist style.
The text is concise and tells you what you want to know. The many color (some b & W) are well placed with the text and definitely add to it. Kudos to the designer and publisher for the quality of the photos and detail down to the paper and the text layout (margins, chapters, fonts). The picture credits show that most are in museum collections in Oslo.
The author is the head of the Stenersen Museum and Curator of the National Museum in Oslo. He has succeeded in his stated goal “to produce an accessible presentation of Munch as an artist with an emphasis on his works”.
I highly recommend this book as an introduction to Edvard Munch and want to know more about him and his work.
As you follow the text and reproductions you see his work change and grow. You see him experiment with new forms and styles, wood cuts, fauve colors and photography.
His portraits were not the formal ones of his time. There are no titans of industry here, no heavily bejeweled females or members of a royal family. He painted friends (one with a cigarette in his mouth) and laboring people. His nudes were very different from those that merely entice: p. 37 “Puberty” shows teenage uncertainty; p. 76 has two surprising (especially for 1895) lithographs of males ogling/fondling a naked female; p. 125 “bathing Men” - even today you don't often see male nudes.classical style) There are many self-portraits, not only paintings and drawings, but also photos.
In his different periods he re-worked his early themes. One example is “The Sick Child” for which two of the 6 known renderings are included in the book. Another theme is “The Kiss” for which there are several examples of both paintings and woodcuts. Other themes are “Dance of Life”and “Girls on the Bridge.”
In later life he purchased Ekely, an 11 acre farm. His content drew more from country life. As you can see from the color prints his style changed too. Longer brush strokes and lighter colors produced a more expressionist style.
The text is concise and tells you what you want to know. The many color (some b & W) are well placed with the text and definitely add to it. Kudos to the designer and publisher for the quality of the photos and detail down to the paper and the text layout (margins, chapters, fonts). The picture credits show that most are in museum collections in Oslo.
The author is the head of the Stenersen Museum and Curator of the National Museum in Oslo. He has succeeded in his stated goal “to produce an accessible presentation of Munch as an artist with an emphasis on his works”.
I highly recommend this book as an introduction to Edvard Munch and want to know more about him and his work.
May 21, 2023
--- "Munch's contemporary, the sculptor Auguste Rodin, reimagined this motif in his depictions of Hell. But for Munch the theme was extracted from its biblical roots, and instead connected to love and the human condition. Melancholy was now represented by an individual" (Ustvedt: 65)
--- "Munch's preoccupation with illness and death is often linked to his experiences at a young age, but in the so-called 'decadence culture' of the 1890s these themes were common." (Ustvedt: 95)
This book describes Munch's life and works by him, which are analysed considering the artistic context. This is good, as Munch's oeuvre tends to be analysed in the light of his biography. At times these two methods of analysis are included to show how the former contradicts the latter. But I missed this when dealing with the paintings of male bathers, which some scholars see as an evidence of Munch's homosexuality.
The book shows how important Munch was for the history of Art in terms of his contributions and originality. Images in colour are included together with descriptions of these images, which to me felt too much at times. I also felt the book did not consider enough how revolutionary Munch was in regards the depiction of men, who have been generally depicted in a heroic and stoic way. Occasionally the book provides details of the history of Norwich art, which is nice.
In the afterword I wish the author had discussed the fact that most of Munch's oeuvre is in Norway and how this may have contributed to his murky position in the history of art. However, the book is very good and I liked reading it.
--- "Munch's preoccupation with illness and death is often linked to his experiences at a young age, but in the so-called 'decadence culture' of the 1890s these themes were common." (Ustvedt: 95)
This book describes Munch's life and works by him, which are analysed considering the artistic context. This is good, as Munch's oeuvre tends to be analysed in the light of his biography. At times these two methods of analysis are included to show how the former contradicts the latter. But I missed this when dealing with the paintings of male bathers, which some scholars see as an evidence of Munch's homosexuality.
The book shows how important Munch was for the history of Art in terms of his contributions and originality. Images in colour are included together with descriptions of these images, which to me felt too much at times. I also felt the book did not consider enough how revolutionary Munch was in regards the depiction of men, who have been generally depicted in a heroic and stoic way. Occasionally the book provides details of the history of Norwich art, which is nice.
In the afterword I wish the author had discussed the fact that most of Munch's oeuvre is in Norway and how this may have contributed to his murky position in the history of art. However, the book is very good and I liked reading it.
August 9, 2023
Gotta say I was a bit thrown by the light kakhi olive cover but as I got into the book it started to seem like the only possible choice. And the cover painting really comes through once you realize that the old man in the chair has his mouth strangely open. The paper is of good quality though it struck me at first as not a great choice for painting reproductions...but it lends a softness and quality that somehow really works.
The book seems designed for when you want to dive into an artist but want the comfortable feel (visually and in the hands) of a book of fiction or a memoir. At this it excels. The writing works well as a biography-with-emphasis-on-artwork (one of the best kinds), and the reproductions are numerous and spread well throughout the book.
The book seems designed for when you want to dive into an artist but want the comfortable feel (visually and in the hands) of a book of fiction or a memoir. At this it excels. The writing works well as a biography-with-emphasis-on-artwork (one of the best kinds), and the reproductions are numerous and spread well throughout the book.
January 25, 2024
Excellent recounting of his life and introduction to his wide and varied works.
April 12, 2025
I read this book because the Harvard Art Museum had an exhibition of Munch’s art. Instead of the art museum we ended up going to the natural history museum instead.
May 29, 2025
Very informative.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews