The artwork titled “Self-Portrait after Spanish Influenza” is a stirring piece created by Edvard Munch in 1919. Using oil on canvas as his medium, Munch imparts his expressionist vision into a self-portrait that encapsulates the physical and psychological toll of his bout with the Spanish influenza. Measuring 150.5 by 131 centimeters, this artwork is part of the genre of self-portraiture, a common theme in Munch’s oeuvre. It is currently housed at the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, and stands as a testament to the artist’s personal experience with illness and his ability to convey deep emotion through his work.
The artwork portrays Munch seated on a chair beside his bed, appearing gaunt and somewhat disheveled, capturing the aftermath of his illness. The palette is dominated by warm, intense colors that veer into the unsettling—signatures of his expressionist style. The artist’s face is sober and introspective, suggesting a man who has been through a harrowing experience and is contemplating his mortality. Broad, swirling brushstrokes energize the canvas, emphasizing the internal turmoil and disrupted state of being Munch may have felt during his recovery. This work is a profound reflection on human vulnerability and the artist’s own existential angst, which are recurrent themes in Munch’s broader body of work.
