Rose and Amelie by Edvard Munch

A striking dive into the popular intimacy of a moment of daily entertainment, this dynamic work reinvents traditional genre scenes with a touch of humor and raw realism. It bears witness to the visual acuity and capacity for transcription of human expressions developed by the famous artist Edvard Munch. This unique game scene, named “Rose and Amelie”, establishes a friendly atmosphere around a table where secrets are shared.

Two women with generous shapes and dark hair pulled up into a classic bun sit side by side behind a large dark brown wooden table. The one on the left, dressed in an impeccable white bodice with short sleeves, holds her cards close to her chest with a concentrated, attentive, and mischievous expression. Her neighbor on the right, wearing a white outfit enhanced with bright red sleeves, leans heavily on her crossed arms, observing the progress of the game with an amused and complicit air. Several playing cards are arranged on the tablecloth or the table in the foreground. The background adopts ocre shades and voluminous dark shadows.

The painter’s traditional brilliance is revealed in the treatment of expressive faces with cheeks rouged with red and prominent outlines. His vigorous pictorial technique gives an undeniable carnal presence and a joyful vitality to this composition, affirming a perfect mastery of oil.