Munch at the Munch-Museet, Oslo

by Arne Eggum

A comprehensive and enlightening overview of this extraordinary painter researched by the foremost experts in the field. Features his lithographs and woodcuts as well as the paintings.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Anastasia Hobbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've become a Munch-maniac since moving to Oslo. The Western world just doesn't know his work well-outside of his atypical 'Scream'-and this is especially true in the US. Now I know why: He disliked his home country and the Norwegian mind-set. In turn, he was disliked here at home for being a disputatious, melancholy loner, working far outside the dull romantic naturalism of mainstream art in northern Europe. He spent much of his life elsewhere to escape the mental claustrophobia of his native land, but came home again and lived in seclusion outside Oslo for his final two decades--where he was tragically caught up in the politics of the brutal Nazi occupation. (He died in 1944, the bleakest year imaginable.) Those brilliant Nazi art critics, who were unfailing in their ability to recognize truly ground-breaking art, declared Munch's output, all of it, (what else?) decadent, and Munch knew he had to make a move to protect his collection somehow. With what I now perceive as pure desperation, he gave everything, his entire collection of more than 10,000 paintings, etchings, and drawings--plus all his voluminous correspondence--to the city of Oslo in order to protect it from the Germans. Ironically, this is exactly the reason why his work is not well known elsewhere. It's remained imprisoned here, and the country has done a signally poor job of taking care of it, displaying it, and promoting the work. Norwegians continue to feel divided about Munch, whose work still looks startlingly contemporary. This is illustrated by the fact that his dedicated museum in Oslo is a tiny 50 year old facility outside the city center, ill-lit, low-ceilinged, and poorly-secured (three paintings have been stolen in recent years right under the eyes of the guards). The city and the federal government--and much of the public--have squabbled for years about building a proper museum to house his work in downtown Oslo. But it's off the table again, perceived as a waste of money on frivolous interests. A recent demonstration by Munch enthusiasts in downtown Oslo was cast in the press as a farce: a bunch spoiled elitists with nothing better to do.

SCREAM!!

To see some of his work, go to: http://www.munch.museum.no/. Click at the top of the home page for the English version

[Craig Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to Edvard Munch when I visited the National Gallery and the Munch Museum in Oslo last year. I was intrigued by his wide range of styles and subject matter, as well as his striking use of comic-grotesque images.

This book focuses primarily on the larger art collection at the Munch Museum. It also includes three lengthy essays that address his personal life, a detailed survey of his paintings, and a briefer overview of his graphic art (intaglio, lithography, and woodcut).

Like many artists, Munch was deeply influenced by childhood tragedy, particularly the deaths of his mother and sister. He battled depression, he overcame gambling and drinking problems, and he had at least one spectacularly disastrous romance that ended with one of his fingers being shot off.

The book helped me understand the context of the art community during Munch’s lifetime, and also gave me an appreciation for the many techniques he pioneered.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh don't know too much about Munch and his less reknown works, I should get a book sometime. I thought walking around the art museum in Oslo back in erm..2006. Well here we are 11 years later. Very troubling family, early deaths of mother and sister to tuberculosis. Other family members suffering from 'meloncholia'as they called depression back then and Munch himself having prolonged battles against what he called 'nerve troubles'. Of course it's all there in the art. This book, although brief on the biography, had loads of good color prints and a great section at the end on Munch's etchings and woodcuts which I was not familar with and are brilliant. To note this was also a bargainous purchase at the annual Newberry book fair. Oh Scandinavian existential angst how I love all your various manifestations.

[Cesare Molin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little book, synthetic and handy.
Very good quality of the reproductions despite the size.
Essays are elementary.
Can't do much with this size and scope, but what it does it does well.

[AnaΣtaΣia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being able to stay at Munch’s museum in Oslo only for a few hours, I didn’t have enough time to ‘’properly’’ browse in the museum’s store…so in a few minutes my eye caught this book and from the little I saw I decided to buy it…Now I see that luck was on my side because it is great!!It contains the biography of the artist , photos of his paintings and their analysis and also his thoughts on certain matters about them. : ‘’People will understand what is sacred in them and will take off their hats as if in church. I will paint a number of such pictures. No longer shall interiors be painted with people reading and women knitting. There shall be living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love.‘
So in a few words…I loved the book!