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 shows a nude woman seated on a couch, rendered by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work is part of the collection at the Munch Museum and reflects the painter’s mature period, when he was exploring intimate, psychologically charged subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is identified as Birgit Prestøe, portrayed with a relaxed posture, short brown hair, and a faint smile. Her arms are crossed over her chest, the left hand resting on the right shoulder, conveying a calm, introspective mood that invites quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a muted, warm palette punctuated by subtle blues and greens in the background. Munch’s handling of light and color softens the forms, while the brushwork retains the expressive qualities associated with his post‑impressionist approach.
History & Provenance
Munch, a graduate of the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania, produced the work during a phase marked by personal reflection. After its completion, the canvas entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display as part of the artist’s oeuvre.
Context
The piece aligns with Munch’s broader interest in portraying inner emotional states rather than external narratives. By focusing on a domestic scene and a solitary figure, the painting underscores his shift toward intimate, psychological portraiture in the early twentieth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
