Artwork
Alma Mater
Alma Mater is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Alma Mater is a 1920 oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, characterized by muted colors and a serene atmosphere. The work depicts a nursing mother in a natural setting, conveying intimacy and calmness.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a woman breastfeeding an infant, seated on a rock amidst trees and water, with distant figures. Her averted gaze and relaxed posture emphasize the private, tender moment, exploring themes of maternal intimacy and tranquility.
Technique & Style
Munch employed gentle brushstrokes and a subdued palette dominated by greens, blues, and browns, aligning with post-impressionist expressive tendencies while cultivating a sense of peacefulness.
History & Provenance
Created in 1920, Alma Mater is part of the Munch Museum's collection, reflecting the artist's post-impressionist period following his training at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
