Artwork
Ploughing Horses
Ploughing Horses 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, *Ploughing Horses* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Executed during the later phase of his career, the work aligns with the post‑impressionist tendency toward expressive color and form, while continuing Munch’s preoccupation with interior states and human experience.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a farmer directing a pair of horses as they work a furrowed field. The animals, rendered in brown and white, display taut musculature, while the man, dressed in blue, concentrates on the task. The composition suggests a dialogue between labor and landscape, hinting at the endurance of rural life.
Technique & Style
Munch employs vigorous brushwork and saturated hues that animate the scene. The application of paint is thick in places, giving texture to the horses’ bodies and the surrounding foliage. This impasto‑like handling enhances the sense of movement and emphasizes the emotional charge typical of his later oeuvre.
History & Provenance
Painted shortly after World War I, the piece reflects Munch’s continued exploration of psychological themes amid a changing world. Though less widely reproduced than his earlier iconic works, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by a European museum in the mid‑20th century, where it remains on display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
