The artwork titled “Ludvig Karsten” is a notable piece created by the renowned Expressionist painter Edvard Munch in 1905. A portrait by genre, it was executed using oil on canvas and measures 194 by 91 centimeters. The piece is part of the collection at the Thielska Galleriet in Stockholm, Sweden, and exemplifies the Expressionism movement.
In this portrait, Munch presents a full-length figure of a man, standing against a vividly colored background that transitions from a warm orange at the top to a more earthy tone towards the bottom. The male figure is clad in a light-colored suit with a vest and tie, and dons a broad-brimmed hat which casts a shadow over his face, lending a certain intensity to his expression. One hand rests on his hip while the other holds a walking stick, suggesting a casual yet confident stance. The brushstrokes are loose and vigorous, typical of Munch’s style, creating a sense of dynamism and emotional depth within the painting. The use of contrasting colors and the man’s direct gaze evoke an immediate and profound engagement with the viewer, characteristic of the Expressionist aim to evoke subjective emotions rather than to reproduce reality.
