In the Open Air
- Original dimensions
- 120 x 65 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1891
Scene depicted
In this canvas , Munch immerses us in a pastoral scene where human figures and rural landscape unite. The characters, enveloped by nature, try to find their place in this living tableau, where the tormented emotions of the artist blend with a powerful visual aesthetic, creating a disturbing harmony between man and his environment.
Historical context
This painting emblematic was created in 1891, under the changing sky of Oslo, formerly Christiania, while Munch, a leading figure of symbolism , explores the depths of the human soul. Through this canvas , which resides today at the Munch Museum, the artist conveys a poignant vision of the relationship between the individual and nature, while capturing the chaotic essence of his time.
Place in the artist's career
Considered one of the milestones of Munch's career, In the Open Air fits into a key moment of his artistic evolution. Echoing other works such as The Scream and The Madonna , this painting reveals Munch's ease in expressing intense emotions, while he evolves towards a richer and deeper style.
Anecdote
Edvard Munch , who said: "Life is never celebrated without melancholy", drew his inspiration during a walk in the flowering woods, feeling a gentle melancholy emanating from nature. That morning, the light and scents of the flora led him to express, through this masterpiece , a vibrant and poetic impulse, capturing the ephemeral beauty of the moment.
Major exhibitions
Munch and France