Edvard Munch is perhaps best known for his work The Scream (which sold at auction for 119.9 million dollars in May 2012 - broke record for highest price for any work of art at auction - unfortunately it was Sotheby's that sold it...still cool I guess...) but, as I learned on this visit to the Tate Modern, there is a lot more to this artist than just that work.
Belonging to the school of Norwegian expressionists, Munch's work is actually quite dark - termed the "master of misery," most of Munch's paintings feature vampires, deathbeds, murder, sickness, panic, distress, and scenes that suggest threatening or tragic motifs.
Knowing this, I did not expect this to be the most uplifting of experiences...
but there were some colorful ones!
Girls on the Bridge, 1899
Snow Falling in the Lane, 1906
The Splitting of Faust, 1932-5
Many of his paintings feature figures melting into one another, like The Kiss, 1897
And he was very interested in making the figures appear right at the edge of the picture frame as if they were confronting you, like this one...
Street in Asgardstrand, 1901
or this!
Workers Returning Home, 1913-5
and now for my PERSONAL favorites...
The Sun, 1910-13
and this!
Starry Night, 1893
it was a beautiful day - this is a picture of the bridge looking out from the Tate towards St. Paul's Cathedral
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