Artwork
Puberty
Puberty is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1898, *Puberty* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to the post‑impressionist period of his career and is part of the collection at the Munch Museum in Oslo. It presents a solitary adolescent figure in a quiet interior, capturing a moment of personal transition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a young girl standing before a white bed, her torso facing the viewer while her head is turned aside. Crossed arms and bare feet convey a restrained vulnerability; her somber expression suggests an inner awareness of bodily change and emotional uncertainty typical of early adolescence.
Technique & Style
Munch employs oil on canvas with a muted palette of browns and whites, emphasizing the figure against a subdued background. The brushwork is relatively restrained, yet the subtle tonal shifts create a charged atmosphere that reflects the psychological tension underlying the scene, aligning with his broader interest in emotional states.
History & Provenance
*Puberty* was produced during a period when Munch was exploring themes of human anxiety and development, influenced by personal experiences of illness and loss. After its creation, the painting 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.
