The coffin is taken away
- Original dimensions
- 70 x 99 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1898
Scene depicted
This canvas depicts a poignant scene, where solemn figures carry a coffin through an expressionist landscape. The silhouettes, veiled in grief, trace a path toward the unknown, carrying with them the weight of loss. The composition creates an atmosphere of reflection, thus intensifying the emotional impact of the work.
Historical context
Created in 1898, in Oslo, the capital of Norway, this painting is part of a pivotal moment in the expressionist movement. The pictorial work, currently housed in the Munch Museum, reflects a time when art explored deep feelings and dark themes. This canvas illustrates the intensity of human emotions in a historical context marked by social and personal upheavals.
Place in the artist's career
Positioning The coffin is taken away as a milestone in Munch's career, this canvas emerges during a period when the artist refines his visual language. Alongside works such as The scream and The dance of life , it shows a maturity in exploring the human psyche, already identifiable in his early sketches.
Anecdote
“Art is the way I free myself from the dark corners of my soul,” Munch might have said during the creation of this masterpiece . He was inspired by a walk through a melancholic landscape, observing faces marked by sadness and loss. This painting evokes both pain and compassion, resonating with the evocative power of The coffin is taken away .