Artwork
Reclining Nude
Reclining Nude is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916, *Reclining Nude* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to the holdings of the Munch Museum and presents a solitary female figure in a relaxed pose. Its muted blue‑gray backdrop and soft lighting emphasize the intimate atmosphere of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a nude woman lying on her side, her short blond hair framing a calm, forward‑facing expression. The figure rests on a white sheet with her head supported by a pillow, suggesting a moment of quiet repose. The painting’s subdued mood aligns with Munch’s interest in inner emotional states.
Technique & Style
Munch employs gentle, fluid brushwork to render the flesh, allowing subtle transitions of tone that convey softness. The limited palette of blues, grays, and muted earth tones reflects his post‑Impressionist leanings, where color and form serve to evoke feeling rather than precise detail. The overall effect is one of understated psychological depth.
History & Provenance
After completing the piece in 1916, Munch retained the work within his personal collection before it entered the Munch Museum’s permanent holdings. The painting illustrates the later phase of his career, following his formal training at Oslo’s Royal School of Art and Design, during which he refined his focus on emotional expression.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
