Artwork
Woman with Samoyed
Woman with Samoyed is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1929 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1929, *Woman with Samoyed* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work presents a solitary woman standing in an interior space, accompanied by a white Samoyed dog at her feet. The composition is rendered with loose, expressive brushwork and a palette that includes muted tones for the figure contrasted with vivid splashes of blue, black and red in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures a modestly dressed woman in a simple light‑colored blouse and dark skirt, positioned before an abstracted, cluttered wall.
The portrait captures a modestly dressed woman in a simple light‑colored blouse and dark skirt, positioned before an abstracted, cluttered wall. The presence of the Samoyed—a breed noted for its fluffy white coat and amiable expression—adds a domestic, affectionate element. While Munch did not provide a narrative, the juxtaposition of the figure and animal within a chaotic setting invites contemplation of isolation, companionship, and inner emotional states.
Technique & Style
Munch employs a post‑impressionist approach, using broad, gestural strokes that give the surface a sketch‑like quality. The paint is applied with varying thickness, creating a subtle impasto that enhances texture, especially in the background’s splattered blues, blacks and reds. This handling of oil allows the forms to remain loosely defined, emphasizing mood over precise detail and reinforcing the work’s psychological focus.
History & Provenance
The painting belongs to the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it has been displayed as part of the artist’s later oeuvre. Munch, a graduate of the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania, produced this work during a period marked by continued exploration of emotional expression through portraiture. Its acquisition by the museum reflects the institution’s commitment to preserving the full range of Munch’s artistic development.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
