Red Virginia Creeper (1898 – 1900) by Edvard Munch

Red Virginia Creeper - Edvard Munch - 1898 - 1900

Artwork Information

TitleRed Virginia Creeper
ArtistEdvard Munch
Date1898 - 1900
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions119.5 x 121 cm
Art MovementExpressionism
Current LocationMunch Museum, Oslo, Norway

About Red Virginia Creeper

The artwork “Red Virginia Creeper” is an oil on canvas piece by the esteemed artist Edvard Munch, created in the period between 1898 and 1900. Belonging to the Expressionism movement, this genre painting measures 119.5 by 121 centimeters. It is currently housed at the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.

In the artwork, we witness a compelling scene that captures the raw emotion and psychological depth characteristic of Munch’s style. The painting depicts a haunting red house, engulfed partially by the vibrant red leaves of the Virginia creeper plant, which lends the piece its name. Contrasting with the vivacity of the red is a stark, leafless tree that stands in the foreground, its branches reaching out into the gray, overcast sky, evoking a sense of desolation. To the left, beyond a white picket fence, another building can be seen, adorned with an artwork that seems to reflect the house’s fiery hue.

The most striking feature of the painting, however, is found in the lower foreground—a pale, wide-eyed face staring out with an expression of shock or horror, disturbing the tranquility of the otherwise still domestic setting. This ghostly apparition, juxtaposed with the bright red and the dreary surroundings, creates a psychological tension that is palpable, a signature quality of Munch’s expressive work. The human element here seems displaced, or perhaps overwhelmed by its surroundings, encapsulating a mix of inner turmoil and emotional resonance with the environment.

Other Artwork from Edvard Munch

More Expressionism Artwork

Scroll to Top