War
- Original dimensions
- 234.5 x 109.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1918
Scene depicted
The canvas War poignantly illustrates the horror and devastating impacts of armed conflict. The dark colors and tormented shapes convey a dramatic legend, revealing the distress and desolation of lost souls on the battlefield. The figures, almost ghostly, disperse in a landscape ravaged by desolation, capturing the tragic essence of existence in the face of the brutality of war.
Historical context
Created in 1918, this painting is emblematic and finds its roots in Oslo, Norway, in a context marked by the upheavals of World War I. A member of the expressionist movement, War evokes suffering and anguish, both on an individual and collective level. Today, this striking canvas resides in the Munch Museum, where it continues to inspire visitors with its impressive dimensions measuring 234.5 x 109.5 cm.
Place in the artist's career
War represents a pivotal moment in the career of Edvard Munch , illustrating his transition to a period of emotional maturity. This masterpiece is situated between two other major works: The Scream , where individual anguish manifests, and The Madonna , which explores the duality of life and death. Together, these canvases trace an evolution that reflects the delicacy of his artistic universe.
Anecdote
“War is a madness of man, a tornado that sweeps everything in its path.” These words from Edvard Munch summarize the inspiration that came to life on a foggy evening as he observed the dancing shadows of soldiers. This moment of intense emotion materializes in the painting through the evocative power of the canvas War .