Yes, you are right ... the man in the portrait is Edvard Munch. He was painted by a fellow artist born in Christiania (now Oslo), Asta Nørregaard.
The young Edvard Munch appears ambitious and elegant in his suit adorned with a pocket watch. The model is close, and the pastel chalk allows Asta Nørregaard to work with a softer and more tactile depiction. The portrait is precise in its portrayal of the figure, and Munch's personality vividly stands out thanks to the level of detail, the colors, and the artist's intimate approach.
Nørregaard’s stays in Munich and Paris defined her style, but she was never part of the Nordic art elite. Instead, she was a sought-after portrait painter. The portraits are characteristic and display her ability to follow her own artistic course, just as Munch did in his experimental youth.
This painting is a part of the Against All Odds – Historical Women and New Algorithms exhibition on view in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, until 8 December 2024. If you are around, don't miss it!
P.S. Have you checked out our Women Artists 50 Postcards Set? It is full of artworks created by amazing women, often forgotten by the official canon of art history. Do you know all the artists in our set?
P.P.S. How much, do you think, does this portrait resemble the actually look of the famous Norwegian painter? You can see it for yourself in these surprising photographs of Edvard Munch.