For one of the most important pioneers of Expressionism, the famous Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863–1944), the pulsating, modern city ofCopenhagen was a bridge to Europe and an occasional refuge. In his lively exchanges with Danish artists and authors, Munch not only had intensive encounters with Paul Gauguin’s art, but also with Impressionism, Symbolism, and Synthetism. During a difficult existential crisis, which began around the turn of the century and lasted until 1908, Munch time and again returned to Denmark.
Rich in material, this book is the first to take a comprehensive look at Munch’s relationship to this Scandinavian country. It shows how much his Danish contacts influenced his reception of contemporary French painting as well as his early oeuvre. Generously illustrated, the volume presents some relatively unknown works created in and around Copenhagen and during Munch’s seven-month stay in a psychiatric clinic. (English edition ISBN 978-3-7757-2476-0)

Exhibition schedule: Ordrupgaard, Copenhagen, September 4–December 6, 2009 | Munch-museet, Oslo , January 21–April 18, 2010