The artwork titled “Jealousy. From the series The Green Room” is an oil on canvas painting completed in 1907 by the celebrated artist Edvard Munch, who is associated with the Expressionist movement. Measuring 76 by 98 centimeters, this genre painting is part of a series that delves into the complexities of human emotion. Currently, it is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, and stands as a testament to Munch’s preoccupation with psychological themes.
“Jealousy. From the series The Green Room” captures a tense and expressive scene featuring three figures that dominate the canvas. The central focus is divided between the two men on either side and a woman standing between them. The man on the left appears troubled, with wide, staring eyes that suggest an internal struggle, likely resonating with the painting’s title—Jealousy. His visage is rendered in shades that convey a sickly pallor, symbolizing perhaps the consuming nature of this emotion. The woman in the middle stands with what could be interpreted as an ambiguous expression; her role in this emotional drama is pivotal yet enigmatic. Her presence, highlighted by the lighter colors of her dress against the darker backgrounds, suggests that she may be the unwitting or perhaps complicit object of the men’s emotional turmoil. On the right, the second man is depicted with his head bowed, evoking a sense of melancholy, or perhaps a feeling of defeat, the colors in his visage merging with the shadows that surround him. The bold, loose brushstrokes and the vivid contrasts of the background further heighten the emotional intensity of the scene.
The artwork suggests a narrative of emotional complexity, conveyed through Munch’s distinctive use of color and form, which serve to immerse the viewer in the psychological depth he sought to capture with his expressionist style. This work exemplifies Munch’s enduring fascination with and portrayal of the human condition, particularly the darker and more turbulent aspects of psychological experience.
