Edvard Munch: A-Z

A new perspective on Edvard Munch One of the most famous painters of modernism The enigmatic and the everyday in his life and work

Edvard Munch is one of the most famous painters of the early 20th century and a role model for many artists to this day. His legendary painting Scream even inspired a popular emoji, something that no other artist has ever achieved. Munch had a unique way of placing himself as an individual in the foreground of his art, making his psychological state the subject of his work. In doing so, he created a personal and at the same time universal diary of the soul that still captivates us today, as international exhibitions of the Norwegian artist show. In twenty-six short chapters, from A for anxiety to G for ghosts, R for revolvers and Z for zoo, familiar but also surprising aspects of his art and life are presented in a compelling way.

In his painterly and graphic work Edvard Munch (18631944) made feelings and states of mind the subject of his work. In intense colors and expressive figuration, he created a highly individual artistic language that makes his oeuvre as enigmatic as it is appealing. Born in Norway, his travels took him to Paris and Berlin, where he cultivated contacts with important writers, artists, and intellectuals of the time. He spent the end of his life in seclusion in Oslo, where he died in 1944.

The art historian Ulf Küster (*1966, Stuttgart) has worked at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen/Basel since 2004. He has curated internationally acclaimed exhibitions and written numerous publications. His books on Edward Hopper and Piet Mondrian (A-Z series) and Louise Bourgeois (Kunst zum Lesen series) have been published by Hatje Cantz. <p