Artwork
Sleepless Night. Self-Portrait in Inner Turmoil
Sleepless Night. Self-Portrait in Inner Turmoil is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1920, this oil painting presents a self‑portrait of Edvard Munch, the Norwegian artist known for exploring personal anxiety. The work belongs to the Munch Museum’s collection and exemplifies his post‑impressionist approach to depicting psychological states.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, stands before a modest table in a dimly lit interior. With his right hand placed over his chest and his left hand gripping the jacket, his downcast gaze and serious expression convey a sense of inner unease, reflecting Munch’s preoccupation with personal turmoil.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a muted palette of reds, shadows, and subdued lighting to heighten emotional tension. Munch’s brushwork emphasizes the contours of the figure and the surrounding space, aligning with post‑impressionist tendencies toward expressive color and form rather than strict realism.
History & Provenance
Munch produced the work after completing his studies at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania. Influenced by the bohemian circle around nihilist Hans Jæger, he turned increasingly toward self‑reflection in his art. The painting entered the Munch Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display.
Context
The early 1920s marked a period when Munch intensified his focus on psychological portraiture, moving away from earlier mythic and symbolic subjects. This self‑portrait aligns with his broader effort to visualize internal conflict, a theme that recurs throughout his later oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
