EDVARD MUNCH – A Groundbreaking Reassessment by Ivo de Figueiredo

As the exclusive distribution partner of the Munch Museum Oslo, Hatje Cantz is publishing The Storm, the captivating biography of Edvard Munch (1863–1944) by Ivo de Figueiredo. This thoroughly researched book tells the life story of the great Norwegian painter within his historical context and analyzes his key works with a fresh and insightful perspective.

The Significance of Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch, considered one of the central pioneers of Expressionism, is closely associated with the emancipation of painting from the mere depiction of reality. His works, which address the existential abysses of the human psyche, mark a turning point in art history of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The biography comprehensively illuminates how Munch's artistic development was shaped by his personal engagement with life crises and his intellectual proximity to the Kristiania bohemians.

A Groundbreaking Reappraisal of the Artist

In The Storm, Ivo de Figueiredo paints a complex portrait of the artist, interpreting his career as a series of ruptures and new beginnings. Munch's detachment from the contemporary art scene on the one hand, and his complicated relationship with German patrons on the other, are examined in detail. The book sheds new light on the historical circumstances that led to the stigmatization of 82 of his works as "degenerate art" and re-evaluates Munch's later years. De Figueiredo's approach combines precise art historical analysis with psychological depth, re-contextualizing Munch's work within European modernism.

Ivo de Figueirido – a multi-award-winning historian

Ivo de Figueiredo (*1966) is a Norwegian historian, biographer, and author. He has written critically acclaimed books, including biographies and works on cultural and intellectual history. Figueiredo is known for his detailed research and captivating narrative style, with which he makes historical topics accessible to a wider audience. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to Norwegian historiography.

The Munch Museum's publications in German

"Germany remains one of the most important countries for understanding Munch – historically and currently. Many of the most significant collections of his work outside Norway are located here. German researchers, curators, and institutions have been important partners in building our knowledge and reinterpreting narratives." Tone Hansen, Director of the Munch Museum

The Munch Museum in Oslo houses the world's largest collection of works by the great modernist Edvard Munch and maintains its own publications department and publishing house. Hatje Cantz is delighted to be the exclusive distribution partner for the Munch Museum's German-language titles starting June 2025. This promising collaboration will bring the museum's attractive publications on Edvard Munch and contemporary art to a wider audience in German. 

Image: Edvard Munch, Self-Portrait by the Window. Photographer: Ove Kvavik. Copyright: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Munchmuseet

Ivo de Figueiredo Photo: Agnete Brun