A new London exhibition titled “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery will showcase the Norwegian Expressionist artist’s lesser-known work—his portraits. Unlike his famous, solitary pieces like “The Scream,” this exhibition highlights Munch’s connections with family and friends throughout his life.

Curator Alison Smith notes that this is the first UK exhibition focused solely on Munch’s portraiture, depicting both personal relationships and his experiences in artistic circles in Kristiania, Paris, and Berlin. Many portraits reflect a poignant personal history, as Munch lost close family members to tuberculosis during a period marked by artistic evolution.

Munch’s capacity to capture hidden personalities is a central theme. His 1885 portrait of Karl Jensen-Hjell sparked controversy with its critical portrayal, and Walther Rathenau, a prominent industrialist, remarked on how Munch’s work revealed deeper truths: “That’s what you get for having your portrait done by a great artist—you look more like yourself than you really are.”

By the early 20th century, Munch had gained popularity and fame, simultaneously creating multiple versions of his works, which he considered akin to his own children due to his emotional attachment. The exhibition will also include self-portraits and highlight relationships with people who supported and inspired Munch.

According to Smith, the exhibition aims to reframe Munch not as a solitary figure but as someone deeply integrated into a vibrant European community, celebrating both the artist and those who influenced him.

The upcoming exhibition “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery will illuminate the artist’s connections with family, friends, and patrons, positioning him within a rich European network. It aims to showcase his exploration of individual identity and emotional depth through portraiture, offering a fresh perspective on his work beyond his iconic pieces.

Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com

The post Exploring Edvard Munch’s Portraits: A New Exhibition in London first appeared on The London Bell.

The National Portrait Gallery in London presents “Edvard Munch Portraits,” the first UK exhibition dedicated to the Norwegian Expressionist’s portraiture. Curated by Alison Smith, the exhibition highlights Munch’s personal connections through a range of portraits depicting his family, friends, and patrons, contrasting with his well-known darker works like “The Scream”. The show delves into Munch’s life in Bohemian circles across cities like Oslo, Paris, and Berlin, emphasizing his artistic development during challenging times.

Munch’s family portraits reflect a difficult past, having lost both his mother and sister to tuberculosis. These artworks illustrate significant artistic growth, featuring naturalistic depictions like his aunt Karen in somber attire and his sister Laura gazing contemplatively in “Evening.” Smith notes how influences from French and Japanese art begin to emerge in Munch’s style, foreshadowing later themes in his work such as melancholy.

A central theme of the exhibition is Munch’s ability to glimpse the underlying truths of his subjects, reflected in his often frank portrayals. His controversial portrait of Karl Jensen-Hjell exemplifies this, provoking outrage during its debut. Similarly, industrialist Walther Rathenau remarked on his portrait, acknowledging how Munch captures more than mere appearances, stating, “That’s what you get for having your portrait done by a great artist—you look more like yourself than you really are.”

By the early 20th century, Munch had gained considerable recognition as a prominent artist and savvy businessman. His connection to his artwork was profound, often producing multiple versions to explore different facets of his creations. Munch used self-portraits to delve into his identity and included hidden narratives, such as in the portrait of lawyer Thor Lütken, emphasising the depth of his subject matter.

The exhibition also highlights Munch’s relationships with influential individuals who supported him both financially and personally. Through his portraits, Munch is positioned not as an isolated figure but as a connected and cosmopolitan artist within a broad European network. This exhibition runs from 13 March to 15 June at the National Portrait Gallery.

The exhibition “Edvard Munch Portraits” at the National Portrait Gallery offers a fresh perspective on the artist’s life through his portraiture, revealing the significant relationships that shaped his work. It showcases his family and friends, examines the complexities of his character, and redefines Munch as a connected figure in European artistic circles. This portrayal challenges the notion of Munch as the lonely artist, instead highlighting his vibrant social milieu.

Original Source: www.theartnewspaper.com

The post Discovering the Connections in Edvard Munch’s Portraits first appeared on The London Bell.

London’s National Portrait Gallery will unveil a new exhibition, “Edvard Munch Portraits,” highlighting the less-explored facet of the Norwegian Expressionist’s work—his portraiture. Featuring Munch’s connections with family, friends, and patrons, this marks the first UK showcase dedicated to his portraits, presenting art created in intimate moments with his subjects. Curator Alison Smith notes that Munch’s portraits reflect both his personal losses and artistic evolvement, including works depicting influential family members and friends from his bohemian life in Oslo, Paris, and Berlin.

Among the highlights are “Evening” (1888), showcasing one of Munch’s sisters, and the moody portrait of his aunt Karen. Smith elaborates on Munch’s engagement with various influences, particularly hinting at Japanese art, which shaped his style. The exhibition also addresses Munch’s perception of people, illustrated through portraits like the 1885 portrayal of artist Karl Jensen-Hjell, which incited controversy for its candid representation.

Additionally, Munch’s ability to delve deeper, seeing “behind everyone’s mask,” is evident, notably in his 1907 portrait of industrialist Walther Rathenau. Rathenau’s quip about his portrait expressing a more genuine self underscores Munch’s skill in portraying psychological depth. Munch had evolved into a popular artist by the early 20th century, yet faced emotional difficulties in parting with his paintings, treating them as his children.

The exhibition also features Munch’s self-portraits, revealing his introspective nature, along with a notable work of lawyer Thor Lütken adorned with symbolic imagery on his sleeve. The subjects of Munch’s portraits were instrumental in his career, providing inspiration and support while contributing to a network of friendships that Munch fostered throughout his life. The exhibition overall portrays him as part of a rich European artistic community, contrasting with the loneliness often associated with his most famous works.

The “Edvard Munch Portraits” exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery offers a fresh perspective on Munch, showcasing his intimate connections with family and friends. Through this lens, it highlights both his artistic evolution and the supportive network that surrounded him, challenging the notion of his solitude and celebrating the relationships that shaped his work.

Original Source: theartnewspaper.com

The post Exploring Edvard Munch’s Portraits at the National Gallery first appeared on The London Bell.