Artwork
Self-Portrait on the Glass Veranda
Self-Portrait on the Glass Veranda is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1930 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1930, *Self-Portrait on the Glass Veranda* is a painted work on a mahogany panel by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The piece is part of the collection of the Munch Museum and presents the artist in an introspective pose before a multi‑paneled window that opens onto a wintry landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows an older Munch seated, his face rendered in warm orange‑brown tones, his attire a dark suit and tie. His solemn expression and the stark, snow‑covered view beyond the glass suggest a reflective mood, emphasizing personal contemplation and perhaps the artist’s awareness of aging and loss.
Technique & Style
Executed with oil on a mahogany surface, the work combines the flattened planes and emotive color palette typical of Munch’s post‑impressionist approach. The contrast between the vivid flesh tones and the muted, almost monochrome background creates depth while maintaining a psychological focus on the sitter’s inner state.
History & Provenance
Munch painted the piece after a long career marked by personal tragedy and illness, during a period when he revisited self‑portraiture. The painting entered the Munch Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s effort to present the artist’s later oeuvre.
Context
The work follows Munch’s earlier explorations of anxiety and existential themes, such as those seen in *The Scream*. By 1930, his style had evolved toward a more subdued, contemplative mode, reflecting both his mature age and the broader currents of early twentieth‑century European art that emphasized inner experience over external realism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
