Mason at work on the studio building
- Original dimensions
- 95.5 x 100 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1920
Scene depicted
This canvas illustrates a group of masons in full activity, figures still blurred, symbolizing human effort and aspiration. Munch, true to his style, does not seek photographic precision but rather the very essence of work and struggle. A rich composition that teems with energy, testifying to the laborious life of the city.
Historical context
Created in 1920, this painting by Edvard Munch is located in Oslo, Norway, at the heart of the expressionist movement. In a period marked by social and artistic upheavals, this canvas embodies the fusion of reality and psychological depth, typical of Munch's work. Currently exhibited at the Munch Museum, this canvas of 95.5 x 100 cm continues to slowly move art lovers.
Place in the artist's career
“Mason at work on the studio building” marks a significant step in Munch's stylistic evolution. This canvas reflects a turning point as he moves away from purely personal themes to explore the collective. Alongside works such as “The Scream” and “The Madonna,” one notices an intensification in his use of colors and forms, always in search of expressing the human soul.
Anecdote
“Beauty is often found in the everyday, where work becomes poetry.” This quote resonates deeply, evoking the moment of Munch's inspiration. Imagine a spring morning, the fresh air of Oslo filled with the scent of cut grass. The sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the faces of the masons at work, a moment powerfully captured in this masterpiece .
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch . Monumental projects