Artwork
Man Ploughing with a White Horse
Man Ploughing with a White Horse is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1919, *Man Plowing with a White Horse* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work shows a solitary figure in dark attire guiding a white horse through a cultivated field, set against a gently rolling landscape. It is part of the permanent collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a farmer engaged in the act of ploughing, his gaze directed toward the earth while the horse moves forward. The scene can be read as a meditation on labor, the relationship between humans and nature, and the quiet endurance of everyday toil, themes that resonated with Munch’s interest in inner experience.
Technique & Style
Munch employs a post‑impressionist approach, using loose, expressive brushwork that leaves a palpable texture on the canvas. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted earth tones that lend the piece a somber, atmospheric quality, while the white horse provides a subtle focal contrast.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s mission to preserve the breadth of Munch’s output, including works that explore psychological and existential concerns beyond his more famous series.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
