Artwork
Stanislaw Przybyszewski
Stanislaw Przybyszewski is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum. Created in 1898, this tempera portrait presents the Polish writer Stanisław Przybyszewski.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1898, this tempera portrait presents the Polish writer Stanisław Przybyszewski. Rendered in a muted brown background, the sitter is shown with short dark hair, a beard, and a cigarette perched between his lips. He wears a dark jacket opened over a white shirt and tie, his gaze directed straight ahead, conveying a quiet, introspective mood.
Subject & Meaning
Przybyszewski, a prominent figure in the fin-de‑siècle literary scene, is depicted with a restrained expression that hints at his complex inner life. The inclusion of the cigarette and the somber palette suggest contemplation and perhaps the turbulence associated with his bohemian lifestyle, aligning the portrait with explorations of psychological depth.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the work employs bold outlines and a limited color range to model form and atmosphere. The artist’s handling of line and subdued tones reflects the post‑impressionist tendency toward expressive surface treatment, while the overall composition emphasizes emotional resonance over strict naturalism.
History & Provenance
The painting has been part of the Edvard Munch Museum’s collection since its acquisition, remaining in the artist’s native Norway. Its presence in the museum situates it among other late‑19th‑century works that document Munch’s development as a portraitist during a period of personal and artistic transition.
Context
Munch produced this portrait amid a circle of radical thinkers, including the philosopher Hans Jæger, whose ideas about individual experience informed the artist’s focus on inner states. The work thus reflects both a personal connection to Przybyszewski and the broader cultural currents of Scandinavian bohemianism at the turn of the century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
