The artwork entitled “Self-Portrait with Burning Cigarette” is a notable piece created in 1895 by the artist Edvard Munch. It falls under the Expressionism art movement and is a self-portrait genre painting. The medium used for this piece is oil on canvas, with dimensions measuring 110.5 x 85.5 cm. Currently, the artwork is housed in the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
This expressionist self-portrait by Edvard Munch showcases the artist in a contemplative or disquieted state. A focus of the composition is the burning cigarette held to the left side of the frame, from which wisps of smoke rise and merge into the darker background. The subject, Munch himself, confronts the viewer with a direct and piercing gaze that communicates both self-awareness and a sense of psychological tension. His face is illuminated against the enveloping darkness, underlining the emotional gravitas of the painting. Munch’s use of thick brushstrokes and contrasting colors highlights the complex emotional landscape he is known for portraying in his work. The artwork’s somber mood is reinforced by the shadowy, almost ethereal, appearance of his figure, which seems to be emerging from or receding into the darkness. The painting is an exemplar of the artist’s ability to capture the inner turmoil and existential angst that are hallmarks of the Expressionist movement.