The Life and Work of Edvard Munch

The life of Edvard Munch provides a way for students to learn about the times he lived in, and the unique challenges the author faced. Munch, a native of Norway, had a difficult life, despite his artistic success. Munch lost his mother and sister to tuberculosis when he was just a boy. Then he too was plagued by illness when he was a college student. Though he initially set out to study engineering in college, he eventually dropped out to become a painter. And so began his career as an artist.

Although Munch achieved fame with his work, he was also considered controversial. Munch was part of subversive groups such as “Christiania’s Bohemia,” and he chose subject matter and a style that was considered controversial. His personal life also affected his choice of subjects. Munch drank heavily, suffered a nervous breakdown, and was shot with a gun, among other things. These experiences informed his artistic style and choice of subject matter. Much of Munch’s artwork depicts themes of death, fear, angst and existential struggles. His most famous works are "The Scream," "The Dance of Life" and "Puberty."

It is important that students approach Munch's work focusing on the emotions evoked by his paintings. Have students bring in magazines and spend the first part of class looking through the magazines. Ask students to select three to five photographs of people depicting different emotions. Discuss how students recognize the emotions, and how they might depict these same emotions in a painting or drawing. Have students paint or draw one of these emotions in an original work. You may also choose to have students create a series of self-portraits showing themselves experiencing different emotions. Another variation to this activity is to have students make masks depicting emotions.

You may wish to collaborate with your colleagues in the English department, when you are working on this lesson. A study of Munch provides a wonderful opportunity to do so. You can have students write a first person narrative or a short story about a Munch painting of their choice. What follows are more lessons and activities to help your students understand the life and work of Edvard Munch.

The Life and Work of Edvard Munch:

Things That Make Us Want to Scream

This lesson focuses specifically on Munch’s famous painting, "The Scream." Students learn about that which influenced Munch and how the work is connected to the eruption of Krakatoa. Students also have the opportunity to express themselves by drawing things that make them want to scream.

Nightmares of Hieronymus Bosch

While not focused specifically on the work of Munch, this lesson focuses on the art of Hieronymus Bosch whose works often evoke fear in the viewer. Munch’s "The Scream" is included along with Picasso’s "Guernica" and Kathe Kollwitz’s "Run Over." Students compare and contrast the styles and means employed by the artists to induce specific emotions and reactions in viewers.

Expressive Expressionist Faces

This lesson helps students to develop an understanding of the German Expressionist movement with a focus on portraiture of this era. Students play with distortion and exaggeration in order to create their own portraits in the style of Munch and his contemporaries.