Artwork
Standing Nude with Arms behind her Head
Standing Nude with Arms behind her Head is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1922 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1922, *Standing Nude with Arms behind her Head* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work portrays a solitary female figure, rendered in a relaxed stance with her arms folded behind the head, set against a background of muted browns, yellows and blues. It is part of the permanent collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Subject & Meaning
The model for the composition is identified as Annie Fjeldbu, who appears in a calm, introspective pose. The figure’s slight turn and upward‑tilted head suggest a moment of private contemplation, emphasizing the quiet presence of the human body rather than narrative drama.
Technique & Style
Munch employs bold, expressive brushwork and a vivid yet restrained palette, characteristic of his post‑impressionist phase. The interplay of warm and cool tones creates subtle depth, while the loose handling of paint conveys a sense of movement within the stillness of the pose.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during a period when Munch was revisiting themes of psychological and physical states. After its completion, it entered the holdings of the Munch Museum, where it remains on display as part of the artist’s late‑career oeuvre.
Context
Munch’s early life, marked by illness and personal loss, informed his lifelong interest in inner experience. By the 1920s, his work had evolved beyond the Symbolist anxieties of his youth, embracing a more direct, corporeal focus that this nude exemplifies.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
