Munch and nature: Barberini shows 110 works by the Norwegian artist
"Munch. Life Landscape" is the title and program of the new exhibition at the Museum Barberini in Potsdam. "In Munch's paintings, nature was heavily involved and a co-actor," said Director Ortrud Westheider on Thursday. "With Munch's landscapes, we have visualized for the first time the idea that everything is interconnected in the cycle of nature." Munch also made feelings visible through his landscapes.
This can be experienced in the most famous work by the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch (1863-1944): "The Scream". It can be seen in the exhibition as an early lithograph, which in German is entitled "Geschrei - Ich fühlte das große Geschrei durch die Natur".
From Saturday, November 18, to April 1, 116 works by the Norwegian master - paintings, lithographs and drawings - will be on display at the Museum Barberini. The first exhibition of his landscape depictions focuses on the natural spaces of forest, garden and field and the summer retreat on the beach. The cover picture of the exhibition, "Summer Night on the Beach", shows the darker hours when the moon is reflected in the waves.
In a specially created "room within a room", the museum presents sketches by Munch that were last shown in Germany more than 100 years ago at the Berlin Secession exhibition. The great success of the unfinished sketches at the Berlin exhibition then convinced a jury to allow Munch to paint the pictures for the Oslo University auditorium.
The monumental sketches, up to six meters long, focus on the interaction between man and nature and the exploration of nature by man. The largest painting shows the sun as the source of life, which also radiates onto other works.
"At that time, people were more concerned about a new ice age and therefore saw the sun as the source of life," explained museum director Westheider. However, Munch's often dramatic images of the weather have taken on a new relevance in the face of climate change and global warming.
Parallel to the exhibition at the Museum Barberini, the Berlinische Galerie is also showing a Munch exhibition: "Edvard Munch. Magic of the North" has been on display since September 15 and will run until January 22, 2024. The relationship between Munch and Berlin is illuminated by means of 90 works. The museums offer a combined ticket for both exhibitions.
Visitors of the Museum Barberini in Potsdam can expect numerous art exhibitions, as the new show titled "Munch. Life Landscape" showcases over 110 works by Edvard Munch, focusing on his landscapes and the interaction between man and nature. This exhibition is a testament to Munch's admiration for nature and how it influenced his art, which can be seen in various exhibitions at museums worldwide.
Source: www.dpa.com
