Women Sunbathing on the Rocks
- Original dimensions
- 130.5 x 100.5 cm
- Museum
- Munch Museum
- Year
- 1915
Scene depicted
In this painting , Munch evokes a moment of serenity, where women flourish under the burning sun, settled on smooth rocks bathed in bright glimmers. The bodies, almost nude, seem to unite with the earth, present while being in harmony with the surrounding nature. The painting invites the viewer to feel the lightness and joy of this suspended moment.
Historical context
Created in 1915, this painting embodies the roots of the expressionist movement, a period of visual and emotional revolution. Located in Oslo, Norway, within the enriched walls of the Munch Museum, this canvas unfolds an evocative power characteristic of the time, where the artist sought to capture the meanders of the human soul.
Place in the artist's career
Women Sunbathing on the Rocks marks a turning point in the career of Edvard Munch , standing at the crossroads between tumultuous youth and artistic maturity. This painting stands alongside The Night and The Scream, highlighting Munch's skill in translating complex emotions through his compositions. Through this canvas, he succeeds in establishing a captivating dialogue between sensuality and introspection.
Anecdote
Edvard Munch once said: “The painting must be the cry of man.” It was during a peaceful afternoon on the Norwegian coast that he found inspiration for this masterpiece , observing the soft light filtering through the foliage and playing on the skins of women lounging in the sun. The emotion captured here resonates deeply through time.