Inger in Black

Edvard Munch worked as an artist for over 60 years. He was creative, ambitious, and hardworking. He produced nearly 2,000 paintings, hundreds of graphic motifs and thousands of drawings. In addition, he wrote poems, prose, and diaries. The Scream, Madonna, Death in the Sickroom, and the other symbolist works from the 1890s have made him one of the most famous artists of our time.

Edvard wanted to become an artist early on, and there was no doubt that he had talent. But his father refused to allow him to follow his dream, so Edvard began studying engineering. After only one year, however, he chose to defy his father, and switched from engineering college to the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry in Kristiania (now Oslo).

It was obvious to everyone in the Norwegian art community that the young man showed rare talent. In 1883, at the age of 20, he debuted at Høstutstillingen (The Autumn Exhibition). In 1886, Munch became acquainted with author and anarchist Hans Jæger, a leading figure in the Kristiania Bohemian community. The Bohemian community convinced Munch that the arts had to renew themselves to reach people and to have relevance in their lives. From this point until his final brush strokes, his artistic practice can be summed up in just one word: experimentation! Munch did not care about established "rules" for so-called good art. His techniques in both painting and graphics were innovative.

Henrik Ibsen's plays about humanity's existential challenges inspired Munch. Themes such as death, love, sexuality, jealousy, and anxiety were central to his early images. Some themes sprang from personal experience.

Inger was Munch's younger sister. Amazing portrait, isn't it?

P.S. Please check our paper calendars for 2021 and notebooks available in our Shop! :)

P.P.S. Here's Edvard Munch’s life in photos!