The “Edvard Munch Portraits” exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery highlights Munch’s collaborative relationships through portraiture. Curator Alison Smith explains this UK-first exhibition, showcasing Munch’s exploration of personal connections and identities, revealing a cosmopolitan artist deeply integrated into European artistic circles.
A new London exhibition titled “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery will showcase the Norwegian Expressionist artist’s lesser-known work—his portraits. Unlike his famous, solitary pieces like “The Scream,” this exhibition highlights Munch’s connections with family and friends throughout his life.
Curator Alison Smith notes that this is the first UK exhibition focused solely on Munch’s portraiture, depicting both personal relationships and his experiences in artistic circles in Kristiania, Paris, and Berlin. Many portraits reflect a poignant personal history, as Munch lost close family members to tuberculosis during a period marked by artistic evolution.
Munch’s capacity to capture hidden personalities is a central theme. His 1885 portrait of Karl Jensen-Hjell sparked controversy with its critical portrayal, and Walther Rathenau, a prominent industrialist, remarked on how Munch’s work revealed deeper truths: “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 popularity and fame, simultaneously creating multiple versions of his works, which he considered akin to his own children due to his emotional attachment. The exhibition will also include self-portraits and highlight relationships with people who supported and inspired Munch.
According to Smith, the exhibition aims to reframe Munch not as a solitary figure but as someone deeply integrated into a vibrant European community, celebrating both the artist and those who influenced him.
The upcoming exhibition “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery will illuminate the artist’s connections with family, friends, and patrons, positioning him within a rich European network. It aims to showcase his exploration of individual identity and emotional depth through portraiture, offering a fresh perspective on his work beyond his iconic pieces.
Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com