Selma Fontheim
- Original dimensions
- 65.5 x 97 cm
- Museum
- Not specified
- Year
- 1894
Scene depicted
This painting celebrates an elegant woman, Selma, whose introspective gaze seems to capture a world of muted emotions. The composition expresses a palpable intimacy, revealing through Juno Munch's desire to explore the human condition, despair and hope at the same time.
Historical context
Created in the last shivers of the 19th century, the painting "Selma Fontheim" in Oslo, Norway, embodies the emergence of symbolism to which Edvard Munch contributed. This canvas vibrant with emotions evokes not only the feminine soul but also the social context of its time, with precise dimensions of 65.5 x 97 cm, it remains one of the most admired by the artist.
Place in the artist's career
“Selma Fontheim” stands as a cornerstone in the stylistic evolution of Edvard Munch . This painting is situated between "The Scream" and "Madonna," translating a period of maturity where Munch expands his vision on human psychology and complex relationships. The nuances and palpable emotions are the signature of his work, the painting inhabits the viewer.
Anecdote
“Art must be an expression of the soul,” Munch asserted one morning, while contemplating the light of Roskilde. It is this quest for inner depth that breathed life into his masterpiece , connecting the power of his initial inspiration to that of the final painting .
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch : portretter