The National Portrait Gallery will display “Edvard Munch Portraits,” a unique UK exhibition focusing on the Norwegian artist’s portraiture. Curated by Alison Smith, it reveals Munch’s personal connections and relationships with family and influential figures. The exhibition runs from 13 March to 15 June and showcases his artistic evolution and social engagement, challenging the solitary image often associated with Munch.
The National Portrait Gallery in London presents “Edvard Munch Portraits,” the first UK exhibition dedicated to the Norwegian Expressionist’s portraiture. Curated by Alison Smith, the exhibition highlights Munch’s personal connections through a range of portraits depicting his family, friends, and patrons, contrasting with his well-known darker works like “The Scream”. The show delves into Munch’s life in Bohemian circles across cities like Oslo, Paris, and Berlin, emphasizing his artistic development during challenging times.
Munch’s family portraits reflect a difficult past, having lost both his mother and sister to tuberculosis. These artworks illustrate significant artistic growth, featuring naturalistic depictions like his aunt Karen in somber attire and his sister Laura gazing contemplatively in “Evening.” Smith notes how influences from French and Japanese art begin to emerge in Munch’s style, foreshadowing later themes in his work such as melancholy.
A central theme of the exhibition is Munch’s ability to glimpse the underlying truths of his subjects, reflected in his often frank portrayals. His controversial portrait of Karl Jensen-Hjell exemplifies this, provoking outrage during its debut. Similarly, industrialist Walther Rathenau remarked on his portrait, acknowledging how Munch captures more than mere appearances, stating, “That’s what you get for having your portrait done by a great artist—you look more like yourself than you really are.”
By the early 20th century, Munch had gained considerable recognition as a prominent artist and savvy businessman. His connection to his artwork was profound, often producing multiple versions to explore different facets of his creations. Munch used self-portraits to delve into his identity and included hidden narratives, such as in the portrait of lawyer Thor Lütken, emphasising the depth of his subject matter.
The exhibition also highlights Munch’s relationships with influential individuals who supported him both financially and personally. Through his portraits, Munch is positioned not as an isolated figure but as a connected and cosmopolitan artist within a broad European network. This exhibition runs from 13 March to 15 June at the National Portrait Gallery.
The exhibition “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery offers a fresh perspective on the artist’s life through his portraiture, revealing the significant relationships that shaped his work. It showcases his family and friends, examines the complexities of his character, and redefines Munch as a connected figure in European artistic circles. This portrayal challenges the notion of Munch as the lonely artist, instead highlighting his vibrant social milieu.
Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com