Artwork
Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
It showcases his unique style and technique, which often featured bold colors and expressive brushwork.
The painting shows a man with a bald head and a blue and white striped shirt. He is looking at the viewer with a neutral expression. The background is yellow and green, with some darker green shapes on the right side.
The man's face is painted in a rough, expressive style, with visible brushstrokes. His eyes are cast downward, giving him a somewhat introspective look. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation.
This painting is a self-portrait by Edvard Munch, created in 1940. It showcases his unique style and technique, which often featured bold colors and expressive brushwork. If you're interested in learning more about Munch's work, you might want to explore the Munch Museum.
Overview
Created in 1940, this oil painting is a self‑portrait by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents the artist facing the viewer, his bald head and striped blue‑white shirt set against a background of muted yellow and green tones. It is part of the permanent collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts Munch himself, rendered with a neutral expression and eyes directed slightly downward, suggesting a reflective, inward‑looking stance. The subdued palette and lack of overt symbolism focus attention on the sitter’s psychological presence rather than narrative content, aligning with Munch’s lifelong interest in interior emotional states.
Technique & Style
Munch employs his characteristic expressive brushwork, allowing the paint to remain visibly textured on the face and clothing. Broad, gestural strokes convey the contours of the head and shirt, while the background features looser, overlapping washes of yellow and green, creating a modest contrast that frames the figure without distracting from its introspection.
History & Provenance
The painting was completed toward the end of Munch’s career, shortly before his death in 1944. It entered the collection of the Munch Museum, the institution dedicated to preserving his oeuvre, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of his later works.
Context
By the 1940s Munch had already established a reputation for probing existential themes through a post‑impressionist visual language. This self‑portrait reflects the artist’s mature period, where personal reflection and a pared‑down compositional approach superseded the more dramatic, symbol‑laden images of his earlier years.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
