Artwork
Charlotte Corday
Charlotte Corday is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
The composition is restrained, employing muted tones that emphasize the figure’s somber presence.
Created in 1930, this oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch portrays a solitary woman in a dark blue dress, clutching a white cloth bearing a red flower. She stands before a light‑toned wall that includes an arched doorway on the left and a patterned hanging on the right, her pale face framed by a brown headscarf. The composition is restrained, employing muted tones that emphasize the figure’s somber presence.
Subject & Meaning
The work references the historical figure Charlotte Corday, known for assassinating the revolutionary Jean‑Paul Marat. By echoing Jacques‑Louis David’s 1793 depiction of Marat’s death, Munch draws a parallel between the act of political violence and its personal, psychological aftermath, inviting contemplation of guilt, sacrifice, and the lingering echo of revolutionary fervor.
Technique & Style
Munch applies his characteristic ‘soul painting’ approach, using subdued coloration and a limited palette to convey interior emotional states. The contrast between the dark dress and the lighter surroundings creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect, while the flat, patterned background reinforces the painting’s post‑impressionist roots and its focus on mood over realistic detail.
History & Provenance
After completing the piece, Munch retained the painting within his personal collection until it entered the holdings of the Munch Museum in Oslo. The museum, dedicated to the artist’s oeuvre, now preserves the work as part of its permanent exhibition of early‑20th‑century Norwegian art.
Context
Munch produced the painting during a period marked by personal health struggles and the lingering trauma of World I, circumstances that deepened his preoccupation with psychological distress. The choice to revisit a revolutionary subject reflects his ongoing engagement with themes of mortality, political upheaval, and the individual's inner turmoil.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
