Artwork
Starry Night
Starry Night 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 by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, this oil on canvas presents a nocturnal winter scene. The composition balances a quiet, snow‑laden terrain with a luminous night sky, where stars and a soft moon illuminate the landscape. The work is part of the Munch Museum’s permanent collection and exemplifies Munch’s later engagement with post‑impressionist aesthetics.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a tranquil winter countryside, its bare trees and snow‑capped hills rendered beneath a deep blue firmament. While the surface suggests calm, the stark contrast between the dark sky and the glowing celestial bodies hints at an inner tension, reflecting Munch’s lifelong preoccupation with emotional undercurrents and the fleeting nature of serenity.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the canvas is dominated by cool blues and purples, punctuated by occasional yellows and greens. Munch employs vigorous, expressive brushwork that conveys both the chill of the night and a subtle dynamism within the stillness. The handling of light—particularly the moon’s gentle wash—creates a luminous atmosphere without sacrificing the work’s structural boldness.
History & Provenance
Painted during the final decade of Munch’s career, the piece entered the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s effort to assemble a comprehensive representation of Munch’s evolution from early Symbolist works to his later, more abstracted explorations of mood and landscape.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
