Artwork
Women in the Bath
Women in the Bath is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1917, *Women in the Bath* is an oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. The work belongs to his series of nudes, produced during a period when he was investigating the possibilities of post‑Impressionist language. It is presently part of the permanent collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a group of women engaged in bathing, rendered with a focus on interior atmosphere rather than idealized form. Munch’s personal history of illness and loss informs the intimate, sometimes uneasy mood, suggesting a contemplation of vulnerability and the private sphere.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs loose brushwork and a muted palette characteristic of post‑Impressionism, while retaining Munch’s signature emphasis on emotional resonance. The composition balances flattened planes with subtle modeling, allowing the figures to emerge from an almost abstracted setting.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the work entered the artist’s estate and was later transferred to the Munch Museum, where it has remained on display. The painting reflects Munch’s ongoing dialogue with contemporary artistic currents and his earlier mentorship under the radical writer Hans Jæger, whose ideas encouraged a more introspective approach to subject matter.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edvard Munch ( MUUNK; Norwegian: ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter.
