Jonas Lie with his family
- Original dimensions
- 103 x 69.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1902
Scene depicted
In this pictorial work , Munch depicts an intimate scene, representing Jonas Lie surrounded by his family. Each character is enveloped in a warm atmosphere, illustrating simple happiness and complicity. The delicate features and expressions reveal a palpable tenderness, rooted in the everyday of human relationships.
Historical context
Created in the heart of Oslo in 1902, this painting symbolizes an era when Edvard Munch , an iconic figure of symbolism and expressionism , explores themes of life, love, and loss. The canvas is currently housed in the Munch Museum, in the city where the artist was born. Its impressive size, 103 x 69.5 cm, invites introspective contemplation, bringing back the reality of its time.
Place in the artist's career
This canvas evokes a key period in Munch's career, where his technique matures towards emotional maturity. Alongside other flagship canvases like “The Scream” and “The Madonna,” “Jonas Lie with his family” marks an evolution towards less troubled compositions, capturing moments of serenity.
Anecdote
“I paint my dreams. And I dream my family.” One spring morning, as the sun's rays flooded his studio, Munch met the gaze of his loved ones, an image imbued with emotion and human warmth. This fleeting interaction gave birth to the painting of Jonas Lie, the infinity of family bonds captured in a canvas that vibrates.
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch : portraits