Artwork
Portrait of an Old Man
Portrait of an Old Man is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Edvard Munch painted *Portrait of an Old Man* in 1907 with oil on canvas. The work is part of the Munch Museum’s collection and presents a solitary, elderly figure rendered in a muted palette of purples and grays.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is an aged man, bald and bearded, dressed in a dark jacket. His direct gaze and solemn expression convey a sense of introspection, echoing Munch’s lifelong interest in the inner lives of his subjects.
Technique & Style
Munch employs loose, textured brushwork that leaves the paint’s surface visible, creating a tactile quality reminiscent of impasto. The handling of form and color aligns with post‑impressionist tendencies toward emotional expression over strict realism.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when Munch was exploring psychological themes, the portrait entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display as part of the artist’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
