The artwork known as “By the Window” is a creation of the renowned Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, dating back to 1940. This oil on canvas exemplifies the Expressionism movement, which sought to depict the world from a subjective perspective, heavily distorting it to evoke moods or ideas. Measuring 84 by 107.5 centimeters, the painting is categorized as a portrait and is presently housed at the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
This artwork renders a figure standing beside a window, through which one can see the skeletal branches of trees against a wintry landscape. The stark contrast between the external coldness and the warmth of the interior space is intrinsic to the composition. Munch’s use of thick paint application or impasto enhances the emotional intensity of the scene. The figure is centrally placed and dominates the canvas. The person’s face, portrayed with a solemn and introspective expression, reflects the classic traits of Expressionism, where emotional resonance supersedes realistic representation. It is the conflation of the external view and the inner state of the subject that encapsulates the potency of this work. The use of bold colors and intense, dramatic brushwork invokes a sense of solitude and reflection, themes often revisited by Munch in his explorations of the human condition.