Model with Hat and Coat
- Original dimensions
- 68.5 x 90.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1916
Scene depicted
This painting highlights a female figure, elegantly draped in a mysterious hat and a dark coat. The lady's posture and the expression on her face intrigue the viewer, suggesting deep introspection. The delicate features of her face, almost withdrawn, invite questions about her thoughts. She appears both present and distant, as if this moment frozen in the painting holds a heavy secret, revealing a subtle tension between the individual and the world around her.
Historical context
This painting was created in the heart of Oslo, Norway, around 1916, within an artistic movement deeply marked by expressionism . The work is situated not only in a period of personal turmoil for Munch but also in a European context where art was beginning to free itself from academic conventions. Today, the painting is carefully preserved at the Munch Museum, anonymously graphed with dimensions of 68.5 x 90.5 cm, making it accessible to art lovers who wish to discover the essence of this iconic canvas.
Place in the artist's career
Model with Hat and Coat occupies a place in Munch's artistic trajectory as a step towards stylistic maturity. After significant works such as The Scream and The Madonna, this painting embodies a phase where the artist ventures further into the expression of emotions and human relationships. It reflects his evolution, illustrating a journey towards increasingly nuanced representations of the human soul.
Anecdote
“The art of a face, of a body, is to find the soul that hides within.” Edvard Munch painted Model with Hat and Coat in a moment of intense introspection. Perhaps it was a foggy morning, where the rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating a peaceful alley, or a face noticed by chance in a gallery. Each brushstroke seems imbued with this search for vibrant authenticity, amplifying the ephemeral nature of human beauty that this painting captures.
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch and his Models: 1912-1943