The Sun by Edvard Munch

A major stylistic break celebrating vital energy and the splendor of the forces of nature, this monumental work proposes a luminous and cosmic vision of the Scandinavian landscape. It departs from the usual dark themes to embrace a brilliant clarity under the visionary gaze of the great painter Edvard Munch. Through this vast coastal panorama bearing the title of “The Sun”, pure light is expressed with an almost divine force and a chromatic audacity absolutely without precedent.

A gigantic and dazzling sun occupies the exact center of the exact upper composition, radiating spectacularly over the entire surface of the canvas. Rectilinear and multicolored beams of light in shades of yellow, red, blue, and green radiate from this white star, crossing the sky and striking the rocks. Below, a calm sea extends between two rocky hills with smooth shapes, in shades of grey, mauve, and ocre. In the foreground, a small strip of green lawn brings a soft plant note into the middle of this majestic mineral landscape. The symmetrical composition gives a sacred presence to the scene.

The artisan’s know-how is manifested by this application of pure colors and radial lines of force that beautifully structure the space of the canvas. This original technique demonstrates a superb ability to poetize and magnify the figure of solar clarity, revealing a perfect mastery of the material.