Artwork
Nude with Long Red Hair
Nude with Long Red Hair is an oil 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, this oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch presents a solitary female figure with striking red hair. The work belongs to the collection of the Munch Museum and exemplifies the painter’s focus on interior, psychological scenes during the early twentieth century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features an unidentified woman standing indoors, her body turned slightly away from the viewer. She holds a small object in one hand, a detail that invites speculation about personal narrative or symbolic significance, while her exposed form emphasizes vulnerability and introspection.
Technique & Style
Munch applies thick, textured brushwork, especially on the skin and hair, producing a palpable surface that recalls impasto methods. A side light illuminates portions of the figure, generating stark chiaroscuro against a dark backdrop, which heightens the contrast between illuminated flesh and surrounding shadow.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during Munch’s post‑impressionist period, a time when he explored emotional states through simplified forms and expressive color. It entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains part of the artist’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
