Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch (born 1863 December 12) was a Norwegian printmaker and painter.

In 1889 Munch painted his first portrait of the leader of the Kristiania (as Christiania was now spelled) bohemians, the anarchist Hans Jaeger and was identified with the controversial group called Christiania‐Boheme, after a novel by Jaegar.

Munchʼs association with Jæger and his circle of radical anarchists became a crucial turning point in his life and a source of new inner unrest and conflict. At that time Munch commenced an extensive biographical literary production. In keeping with Jægerʼs ideas he wanted to present truthful close‐ups of the modern individualʼs longings and agonies — he wanted to paint his own life.

Munch was invited to show his paintings by the Artistʼs Association of Berlin. It was a formidable “succès de scandale”.

The general public and the older painters interpreted Munchʼs art as anarchistic provocation, and the exhibit was closed in protest within a week.

Quote

“Illness, insanity and death are the black angels that kept watch over my cradle and accompanied me all my life.”

— Edvard Munch