The artwork titled “August Strindberg” is a portrait created by Edvard Munch in 1892. This oil on canvas painting is an expression of the Expressionist art movement, measuring 120 x 90 cm. The genre of the work is a portrait and it is housed at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden.
The artwork captures the intense gaze and striking presence of the individual portrayed, August Strindberg. It exhibits a dynamic and restless brushwork, characteristic of Munch’s style during this period. The color palette is somewhat muted, with an emphasis on blues and grays, evoking a somber mood that resonates with the emotional depth typical of Expressionism. The brushstrokes are loose and appear almost hasty, as though the artist is trying to capture more than just the physical likeness of the subject; there is a palpable sense of the psychological energy emanating from him. The subject’s face is rendered with enough detail to convey his strong personality, while the surroundings are abstracted, focusing the viewer’s attention firmly on the figure. The overall effect is a powerful psychological portrait that extends beyond the mere depiction of a person, aiming to capture an emotional and spiritual state.
