The Lumberjack (1913) by Edvard Munch

The Lumberjack - Edvard Munch - 1913

Artwork Information

TitleThe Lumberjack
ArtistEdvard Munch
Date1913
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions130 x 105.5 cm
Art MovementExpressionism
Current LocationMunch Museum, Oslo, Norway

About The Lumberjack

“The Lumberjack” is a genre painting by Edvard Munch, dating back to 1913. This artwork, rendered in oil on canvas, epitomizes the Expressionist movement with its vivid emotional portrayal. Measuring 130 x 105.5 cm, it finds its home in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. The artwork presents a dynamic and textured representation of a man involved in the act of cutting wood.

In the artwork, the lumberjack is depicted in a moment of physical labor, emphasizing the interaction between man and nature. Munch employs a palette of potent, swirling colors and the composition is filled with bold, expressive brushstrokes that convey motion and intensity. The lumberjack, dressed in dark clothes, appears to be pushing down on a saw, actively engaged in the process of slicing through a large log. The figure is anchored firmly within a landscape that is abstracted to enhance the feeling of raw energy and vitality. The use of perspective draws the viewer’s eye along the length of the felled tree, creating a sense of depth and immediacy. Through this artwork, Munch not only captures a snapshot of rural life but also communicates the existential themes of struggle and the human condition—a hallmark of his larger body of work.

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