Harvesting Corn
- Original dimensions
- 120 x 100 cm
- Museum
- Not specified
- Year
- 1917
Scene depicted
In "Harvesting Corn," Munch depicts farmers offering their labor on the fertile soil. The canvas vibrates with the colors of the harvest, while their silhouettes blend into an almost musical movement, evoking the soft whisper of the wind in the fields and the distant laughter of children playing in the shade of the trees. This rustic scene becomes an ode to the work of the land and ancestral ties.
Historical context
Created in 1917, during a troubled period, the painting "Harvesting Corn" is set in the Scandinavian context and belongs to the expressionist movement. This canvas , imbued with a rural atmosphere, evokes the harvest in Norwegian fields. After its creation, the work has traveled through time, but its current location remains a mystery, thus preserving a part of its fantastic aura.
Place in the artist's career
This canvas , an emblematic work midway through his career, stands alongside other major pieces like "The Scream" and "The Madonna." "Harvesting Corn" reflects Munch's evolution, moving from psychological torment to a celebration of simplicity, while maintaining his unique emotional signature. This painting represents both a revolt and a peace, embodying his desire to return to roots.
Anecdote
“Nature is a cry from the heart, a silent song,” Munch is said to have declared. Inspired by a sunny morning in the countryside, he painted this masterpiece capturing the chivalrous light playing on the golden ears of corn. With each brushstroke, he expressed the harmony of a world in communion with its elements.