Edvard Munch
1892
Oil paint on canvas
In this painting of Åsgårdstrand’s shoreline on the Oslo Fjord, the scene appears at once familiar and otherworldly. The unexpected, repeated chain of moons in the centre and the strange effects of the evening light create a mysterious atmosphere. This is heightened by the distant lone boat – the only sign of human presence.
Here, Edvard Munch moves away from his earlier, Impressionist-inspired paintings, in which he sought to capture the natural effects of sunlight. He uses moonlight in a highly expressive way to convey mood and emotion. This work was included in Munch’s breakthrough exhibition at an artists’ association in Berlin in 1892. The show was condemned by some of the members for its poor taste and closed after just one week, earning Munch great notoriety.