Artwork
Standing Nude
Standing Nude 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, *Standing Nude* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a solitary female figure, rendered in subdued tones, set against a warm orange interior. The composition is simple, focusing attention on the nude form and its quiet presence within the space.
Subject & Meaning
The model for the painting is Annie Fjeldbu, portrayed standing upright and facing the viewer with a calm, expressionless face. Her hair is pulled back and her arms rest at her sides, conveying a sense of stillness and introspection that aligns with Munch’s interest in inner psychological states.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a muted palette and soft modeling of flesh, characteristic of Munch’s post‑impressionist approach. The warm orange background and subtle gradations suggest a glazing technique, allowing light to permeate the surface and enhance the figure’s volumetric presence.
History & Provenance
*Standing Nude* was produced during a period when Munch was revisiting the human figure, integrating his earlier concerns with illness and loss into a more restrained visual language. The work remains part of the artist’s later oeuvre, reflecting his continued exploration of psychological depth through portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
