Edvard Munch
1884
Oil paint on canvas
This painting of a young woman – probably a domestic servant – captures an intimate moment as she pauses from dressing. Her blouse is not fully buttoned and her bare foot is exposed. In rendering the subtle effects of morning light filtering through the window, Edvard Munch was inspired by the new French Impressionist style, using loose brushstrokes and shimmering colours.
Painted when Munch was just twenty years old, Morning was one of the first major works he exhibited. It marked him out as a rising star of modern painting in Norway but also drew harsh criticism. Whilst some admired the painting’s modern sensibility, others found its technique rough and its subject matter distasteful.