Artwork
Henriette Olsen
Henriette Olsen is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1932 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1932, this oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch portrays a woman named Henriette Olsen. The work is part of the Munch Museum’s collection and exemplifies Munch’s later period, when he continued to investigate inner experience through a post‑impressionist visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows Olsen standing in a garden, her short blonde hair framing a gaze directed to the left. She wears a yellow dress adorned with red and purple blossoms, while a tree laden with green foliage and red apples rises behind her. A darker, partially hidden figure near a pole adds a subtle narrative tension.
Technique & Style
Munch applies loose, expressive brushwork to the dress, allowing color and form to merge in a fluid manner. The surrounding landscape is rendered in muted greens and browns, creating a calm atmosphere that contrasts with the vivid accents of the dress and flowers. The overall palette and handling reflect a post‑impressionist approach to mood.
History & Provenance
The portrait entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, the principal repository for the artist’s oeuvre. It remains in the museum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed alongside other works that document Munch’s evolving exploration of psychological themes throughout his career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
