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Munch, Edvard.
A gifted Norwegian painter and printmaker, Edvard Munch not only was his
country's greatest artist, but also played a vital role in the development
of German expressionism. His work often included the symbolic portrayal
of such themes as misery, sickness, and death. The Cry, probably his most
familiar painting, is typical in its anguished expression of isolation
and fear.
Munch was born on Dec. 12, 1863, in Loten, Norway. He grew up in Christiania
(now Oslo) and studied art under Christian Krohg, a Norwegian naturalistic
painter. Munch's parents, a brother, and a sister died while he was still
young, which probably explains the bleakness and pessimism of much of
his work. Paintings such as The Sick Child (1886), Vampire (1893-94),
and Ashes (1894) show his preoccupation with the darker aspects of life.
Munch traveled to Paris in 1885, and his work began to show the influence
of French painters--first, the impressionists, and then the postimpressionists--as
well as art nouveau design. Like many young artists Munch reacted against
conventional behavior, and in 1892 he took part in a controversial exhibit
in Berlin. His circle of friends included several writers, one of whom
was the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Munch designed the sets for
several of Ibsen's plays.
Between 1892 and 1908, Munch spent much of his time in Paris and Berlin,
where he became known for his prints--etchings, lithographs, and woodcuts.
After 1910 Munch returned to Norway, where he lived and painted until
his death. In his later paintings Munch showed more interest in nature,
and his work became more colorful and less pessimistic. Munch died in
Ekely, near Oslo, on Jan. 23, 1944. He left many of his works to the city
of Oslo, which built a museum in his honor.
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