The artwork titled “Man and Woman” is an oil on canvas painting by Edvard Munch, completed in 1898. As a piece of the Expressionism movement, Munch’s creation exhibits the characteristic emotional resonance and dramatic representation of subjective experience. The work measures 60.2 by 100 centimeters and is categorized under genre painting. The painting is part of the Rasmus Meyer Collection located in Bergen, Norway.
The painting depicts a man and woman in a moment of stark emotional contrast and physical interaction. The woman is seated, her body presented frontally with a serene, almost aloof, expression, while her nude form contrasts with the darker tones of the composition. The man is turned away from the viewer, his posture one of brooding contemplation or despair. His head is buried in his hands, indicating a state of intense psychological torment or thought. The figures are rendered with bold, expressive brushstrokes, and the palette relies on dark, earthy colors with highlights that sculpt the forms, enhancing the emotional intensity of the scene.
The stark disparity in the emotional states of the man and woman, conveyed through their body language and positioning, reflects a narrative of complex human relationships. The artwork is emblematic of Munch’s preoccupation with the inner turmoil and existential angst that characterizes much of his oeuvre. Through the artwork, the artist explores themes of love, fear, mortality, and human vulnerability, depicting them with an emotional depth that challenges the viewer to consider the psychological dynamics at play.
