Research post for Cycle of Life: Edvard Munch

This time I would like to research more deeply and look at Edvard Munch and his paintings about life and death. The painting I want to discuss is Death of Marat I (1907) by Edvard Munch. The painting depicts the scene after the murder. As Artchive.com (2024) says, “A prominent figure, possibly representing Charlotte Corday, who historically murdered Marat, stands in the foreground. She is nude, with a solemn expression on her face, and her presence adds an enigmatic quality to the scene.” The woman looks calm and relaxed. She could eat dinner afterward, as just another day in the job. Nothing special she just killed a man.

Munch, E. (1907) Death of Marat I. [Oil on canvas]. Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway. Available at: https://www.artchive.com/artwork/death-of-marat-i-edvard-munch-1907/ (Accessed: 2 November 2024).

Next work painted also by Edvard is Kiss of Death 1899. This painting decipts womans face kissed by skull As (Stanska, 2016) said "Her long hair covers the neck and the shoulders of death, who sweetly kisses her cheek. She, however, remains indifferent to him and looks away with forlorn eyes. Once again, the maiden seems to dominate her partner." Edvard thought a lot about womans and death. Many of his painting focused on thais subject. 

Edvard Munch, Kiss of Death, 1899, private collection. Avaiable at:https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/edvard-munch-and-death/ (Accessed: 2 November 2024).

The last work I would like to discuss is The Tree of Life (1910). This painting is different from the others. Here, Munch used warm colors to emphasize creation, birth, and beginnings. The picture depicts a tree and people who are taking fruit from this tree as a symbol of life. As Munch said, “Without anxiety and illness I should have been like a ship without a rudder.” It follows that he was aware of the cycle of life and death.

Munch .E The Tree of Life  1910 Munch Museum Available at: https://useum.org/artwork/The-Tree-of-Life-Edvard-Munch-1910 (Accessed: 2 November 2024).

Reference:

Artchive.com. (2024). Death of Marat I (1907) by Edvard Munch – Artchive. [online] Available at: https://www.artchive.com/artwork/death-of-marat-i-edvard-munch-1907/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2024].

Stanska, Z. (2016). Edvard Munch and Death. [online] DailyArtMagazine.com - Art History Stories. Available at: https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/edvard-munch-and-death/ [Accessed 2 Nov. 2024].

www.goodreads.com. (n.d.). Edvard Munch Quotes (Author of The Private Journals of Edvard Munch). [online] Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/162004.Edvard_Munch [Accessed 2 Nov. 2024].