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Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth
A thought-provoking volume on Edvard Munch’s often neglected pictures of nature, exploring the Norwegian artist’s landscapes, seascapes, and existential environments in light of his own time and ours
This richly illustrated catalogue provides a multifaceted perspective on the pictures of nature and landscape by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863–1944). This important topic has been neglected in scholarship on Munch, despite the fact that it is a major motif in his oeuvre. This volume is the first to explore the theme in its full breadth throughout Munch’s corpus, including his paintings, lithographs, watercolors, and woodcuts. His depictions of forests, farmland, and the seashore, as well as paintings of sea storms, snow, and other extreme weather, present us with undulating forms that animate nature. They likewise provide an example of Munch’s preference for liminal spaces where transformations take place, often celebrating human interaction with nature in its many manifestations. The book also considers Munch’s less conventional landscapes, and particularly those where his famous Scream motif occurs. These environments depict nature in an existential way, suggesting that the artist held a deep concern for nature’s destruction by humans—a concern no less relevant today. A complementary look at his writings as primary sources alongside his images shows how Munch mixed a scientific perspective on nature with metaphysical and spiritual notions of rebirth that permeate other parts of his corpus. The book also includes a engaging short story by award-winning author Ali Smith that was inspired by Munch's work.
Distributed for MUNCH
Exhibition Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA
(June 10–October 15, 2023)
Museum Barberini, Potsdam
(November 18, 2023–April 1, 2024)
Munch Museum, Oslo
(April 27–August 24, 2024)
This richly illustrated catalogue provides a multifaceted perspective on the pictures of nature and landscape by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863–1944). This important topic has been neglected in scholarship on Munch, despite the fact that it is a major motif in his oeuvre. This volume is the first to explore the theme in its full breadth throughout Munch’s corpus, including his paintings, lithographs, watercolors, and woodcuts. His depictions of forests, farmland, and the seashore, as well as paintings of sea storms, snow, and other extreme weather, present us with undulating forms that animate nature. They likewise provide an example of Munch’s preference for liminal spaces where transformations take place, often celebrating human interaction with nature in its many manifestations. The book also considers Munch’s less conventional landscapes, and particularly those where his famous Scream motif occurs. These environments depict nature in an existential way, suggesting that the artist held a deep concern for nature’s destruction by humans—a concern no less relevant today. A complementary look at his writings as primary sources alongside his images shows how Munch mixed a scientific perspective on nature with metaphysical and spiritual notions of rebirth that permeate other parts of his corpus. The book also includes a engaging short story by award-winning author Ali Smith that was inspired by Munch's work.
Distributed for MUNCH
Exhibition Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA
(June 10–October 15, 2023)
Museum Barberini, Potsdam
(November 18, 2023–April 1, 2024)
Munch Museum, Oslo
(April 27–August 24, 2024)
240 pages, Hardcover
Published June 27, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 29, 2024
error !!: //review coming soon//
enjoy this picture of the sun:
enjoy this picture of the sun:
August 26, 2023
Excellent catalog and exhibition. Munch, who had early childhood trauma, suffered throughout his life. His broken and unstable relationships are reflected in is drawings and paintings. "The Sun" is a great painting that signals Munch's recovery from illness. Munch's logging paintings are great! Norway was built on the timber industry. Munch lived in the countryside for most of his life. He was concerned about climate and the environment.
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December 31, 2025delicious. so good. the exhibition was amazing and this was a beautiful look at his works the essays were stunning i love. thank you from the essay due in a week and my diss x
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews