Artwork
Man with Straw Hat
Man with Straw Hat is a tempera painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1902 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1902, *Man with Straw Hat* is a tempera portrait by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The composition centers on a solitary figure whose upper body and face are rendered against a warm, earthy backdrop. The painting is part of the Munch Museum’s permanent collection and exemplifies Munch’s post‑impressionist phase.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a man in a dark jacket and lighter shirt, his right hand resting on his stomach, and a straw hat tipped casually to one side. His gaze is directed downward, and the facial features are softly blurred, suggesting introspection or emotional distance rather than a straightforward likeness.
Technique & Style
Munch employed tempera, a medium that allows for fine, layered brushwork and a matte surface. This choice gives the canvas a textured quality, enhancing the subtle modeling of flesh and fabric. The palette of muted earth tones and the loose handling of form align the piece with post‑impressionist concerns for mood over precise detail.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the painting has remained within the holdings of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it is displayed alongside other works from the artist’s early twentieth‑century output. Its acquisition history is straightforward, reflecting the museum’s role as the primary repository for Munch’s oeuvre.
Context
The portrait emerges during a period when Munch was exploring personal and existential themes through simplified forms and expressive color. While not as overtly symbolic as some of his later pieces, the subdued atmosphere and ambiguous expression echo the broader psychological undercurrents present in his work at the turn of the century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
