Artwork
Jens Thiis (Painting)
Jens Thiis (Painting) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1909, this oil portrait by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch presents the figure of Jens Thiis. The work belongs to the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo and exemplifies Munch’s early twentieth‑century approach to portraiture, situated between his academic training and the more expressive tendencies that would later define his oeuvre.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a formally dressed man in a dark suit, green tie and a long black coat draped over his arm. His right hand rests in a pocket while the left grasps the coat, and his face is rendered indistinct, leaving his expression ambiguous. The composition suggests a balance between public decorum and an inner psychological distance.
Technique & Style
Munch applies broad, visible brushstrokes to a light‑beige background, producing a textured surface that contrasts with the smoother rendering of the clothing. The palette combines muted tones with occasional vivid accents, such as the green tie, reflecting the post‑impressionist interest in color and gesture while retaining a restrained, almost unfinished quality.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted shortly after Munch’s studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania and his involvement with contemporary nihilist circles, which encouraged heightened emotional expression. Since its creation, the painting has remained in Norway, entering the Munch Museum’s holdings where it is displayed as part of the artist’s portrait series.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
