Artwork
History
History is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1913, *History* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work is part of the Munch Museum’s collection and exemplifies Munch’s turn toward the post‑impressionist idiom. It presents a quiet scene on a rocky outcrop, rendered with soft hues and a tranquil atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows an adult male and a child positioned on a cliff, the man seated on a large stone while the child stands nearby. Both wear simple white shirts; the man’s blue trousers contrast with the child’s darker pants. The surrounding rocks and a leafy tree suggest a natural setting, evoking a sense of calm reflection.
Technique & Style
Munch employs gentle brushwork and a muted palette that lend the piece a dreamy quality. The soft transitions of color and the subtle modeling of forms reflect his interest in conveying psychological states through visual means, aligning the work with the broader post‑impressionist focus on mood over precise detail.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during a period when Munch was consolidating his personal style after studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania. *History* entered the Munch Museum’s holdings, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the institution’s core collection of the artist’s oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
