Artwork
Nude, Sitting on the Couch
Nude, Sitting on the Couch is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1925, this oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch portrays a nude woman seated on a couch. The work is part of the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo and reflects the artist’s mature period, when he was exploring intimate, psychological subjects through a post‑Impressionist visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Birgit Prestøe, shown in a relaxed pose with her legs folded to one side and her arms resting on her thighs. She looks directly at the viewer with a neutral expression, inviting a quiet, introspective engagement that emphasizes the inner calm of the moment rather than overt sensuality.
Technique & Style
Munch employs soft, muted tones to render the skin, allowing subtle shifts of light to model the form. The composition is simple, with the figure centered against a modest interior that includes a bookshelf and a window, while the brushwork remains restrained, highlighting the contemplative atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the holdings of the Munch Museum shortly after its creation, becoming part of the institution’s core representation of the artist’s later oeuvre. It remains on display there, offering insight into Munch’s continued focus on personal and psychological themes.
Context
By the mid‑1920s Munch had already established a reputation for expressing anxiety and emotional depth. Influenced by his early bohemian circles and the nihilist ideas of Hans Jæger, he turned toward more intimate domestic scenes, using the nude form to explore vulnerability and inner life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
