Artwork
Apple Tree by the Studio
Apple Tree by the Studio 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
The composition is anchored by the tree’s central placement, drawing the eye to its expansive branches under a blue sky dotted with clouds.
Created in 1920, *Apple Tree by the Studio* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a solitary apple tree set against a modest urban backdrop, its foliage rendered in deep green and its fruit ranging from vivid red to softer yellow‑green tones. The composition is anchored by the tree’s central placement, drawing the eye to its expansive branches under a blue sky dotted with clouds.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas focuses on a single apple tree, rendered as a study of natural growth amid a built environment. The varying stages of the apples’ ripeness suggest a contemplation of cycles of life and decay, themes that recur in Munch’s broader exploration of emotional and psychological states. The surrounding buildings and sky provide a contextual frame that emphasizes the tree’s prominence within the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs bold, expressive brushstrokes characteristic of Munch’s post‑impressionist approach. Color is applied with high saturation, especially in the reds of the fruit and the deep greens of the leaves, creating a vivid visual impact. The handling of light and atmosphere, with a clear blue sky and soft cloud forms, contributes to a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance.
History & Provenance
*Apple Tree by the Studio* entered the collection of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display. The work forms part of a series of landscape paintings Munch produced in the early 1920s, a period marked by his continued investigation of mood through natural subjects. Its acquisition by the museum reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving the full range of Munch’s artistic output.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
