The painting “Summer Night (Inger on the Shore)” by Edvard Munch was created in 1889 and is a fine example of genre painting that can be associated with Expressionism. This oil on canvas masterpiece measures 126.5 by 162 cm and is currently held in the Rasmus Meyer Collection in Bergen, Norway.
The artwork depicts a solitary figure, a woman named Inger, sitting on a rocky shore during twilight. Her pose is contemplative, as she looks out over the calm water, which has a soft gradation from the pinkish hues of the late sky to the darker blues of the deep sea. The rocks around Inger have a rough texture and their earthy colors contrast with the light white of her dress. The overall mood of the painting is meditative and introspective, with a sense of stillness that is typical of Munch’s works which often explore human emotion and psyche. The painting uses color and light to evoke a mood rather than to depict reality with photographic precision, showcasing Munch’s move towards a more expressionistic style.
