Conversation
- Original dimensions
- 78.5 x 98.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1917
Scene depicted
The characters in this work seem engaged in a silent dialogue, lost in their thoughts, sharing a space of intimacy. This scene depicts the complexity of human relationships and the invisible barrier that can exist between souls, a theme dear to Munch. Their expressions, both absent and present, invite the viewer to reflect on the very nature of communication.
Historical context
Created in 1917, this painting is an iconic work by Edvard Munch that belongs to the expressionist movement, in Oslo, Norway. Rooted in a tumultuous social and cultural context, this canvas reflects the complex thoughts related to human relationships. Today, the painting is displayed at the Munch Museum, famous for its collection of works by the Norwegian master.
Place in the artist's career
This painting represents a pivotal moment in Munch's career, reflecting an artistic maturity and a mastery that is asserting itself. Alongside The Scream and The Madonna , Conversation shows how the artist honed his style, exploring themes of anxiety and isolation with heightened sensitivity.
Anecdote
“Solitude is the tearing at the heart of the human network,” could have said Edvard Munch as he walked along a Norwegian fjord one misty morning. This painting encapsulates the very essence of his inspiration, a symbol of a fleeting moment where the depth of silent exchanges reveals itself in the tension of bodies.
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch and his models: 1912-1943