The artwork titled “Self-Portrait with Cod’s Head” is an exceptional piece by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, executed in 1940. This oil on canvas painting adheres to the Expressionist movement, and its physical dimensions measure 55 cm in height and 45.5 cm in width. As the genre suggests, this piece is a self-portrait. Munch’s work is currently housed in the Munch Museum, located in Oslo, Norway, where it adds to the rich cultural heritage of the institution.
The artwork depicts a vivid and penetrating self-portrait of the artist himself. Munch is seated, confronting the viewer with a direct and intense gaze that conveys a deep emotional resonance. In front of him on a table lies a large cod’s head situated on a plate, almost confrontational in its placement and execution. The interaction between Munch’s own visage and the lifeless cod generates an unsettling juxtaposition, likely symbolizing mortality and the artist’s contemplation of his own existence.
Munch’s use of color in this painting is characteristic of his expressionist style, with pronounced strokes and contrasting hues that imbue the scene with a sense of inner turmoil and psychological depth. The background is rendered in undulating shades of green and blue, creating a dynamic backdrop that accentuates the artist’s features and the stark presence of the fish on the plate. Despite the painting’s strong emotional undercurrents, the composition has a simplicity that only heightens its impact.
Overall, “Self-Portrait with Cod’s Head” stands as an introspective work, capturing the essence of Munch’s artistic vision—it is profound, unapologetically personal, and hauntingly beautiful.
