Artwork
Maggie Torkildsen
Maggie Torkildsen 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, *Maggie Torkildsen* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, produced during the final phase of his career. The work is part of the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo and exemplifies the painter’s sustained interest in portraying interior scenes and individual psychology through muted yet resonant colour.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas shows a woman dressed in a dark, high‑necked gown, standing before a desk and chair. Her pale complexion and pulled‑back hair give her a restrained demeanor, while her clasped hands suggest introspection. The surrounding space, rendered in blended purples, blues and oranges, contributes to an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, inviting viewers to consider the sitter’s inner state.
Technique & Style
Munch employs oil on canvas with a loose, post‑impressionist brushwork that softens edges and merges background tones. The palette combines cool and warm hues, allowing the figure to emerge from an ambiguous setting. This approach reflects Munch’s ongoing exploration of subjective experience, using colour and form to convey emotional nuance rather than strict realism.
History & Provenance
The portrait was completed in the early 1930s, a period when Munch was revisiting portraiture with a focus on personal narratives. After its creation, the painting entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the artist’s late‑period oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
