The artwork titled “Galloping horse,” created by the renowned artist Edvard Munch between 1910 and 1912, is an oil on canvas belonging to the Expressionism movement. Measuring 148 x 120 cm, this genre painting exemplifies the emotive style characteristic of Munch’s work and is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
Upon examining the artwork, one is immediately struck by the dynamic representation of a horse in mid-gallop. The brushstrokes are loose and vigorous, capturing the energy and motion of the horse. Surrounding the central figure are what appear to be a group of people, possibly spectators or participants in an unseen event, rendered with the same expressive technique. The palette is dominated by earthen tones that evoke the natural setting, and the interplay between the figures and the background conveys a sense of immediacy and intensity. The composition skillfully channels the viewer’s focus towards the horse, whose presence is made emphatic by the contrast between its vivid reddish-brown color and the cooler hues of the snowy landscape.
Edvard Munch’s characteristic use of color and form to evoke emotional resonance is present here, as the artwork communicates a sense of movement and chaos, perhaps reflective of the internal state of the subjects or the artist himself. The scene depicted is not just a literal representation but suggests a deeper, psychological narrative—a hallmark of Expressionist art.
