The Experimental Self Edvard Munch's Photography

Did you know that Edvard Munch not only painted, but also liked to photograph? And that he took lots of selfies? Discover the artist’s investigative and poetic photographs in this exhibition, where he points the camera at himself and his immediate surroundings.
Edvard Munch: Edvard Munch à la Marat ved badekaret på Dr. Jacobsons klinikk. Sølvgelatin, 1908-09. Foto © Munchmuseet

Exhibition

MUNCH, Tøyen
15.06.2020 – 30.09.2021

In 1902 Edvard Munch bought his first camera. He used it diligently to experiment in his immediate surroundings, and often pointed the lens at himself – at the sanatorium, on the beach or in his garden. Munch was a curious photographer and often exploited the effect of technical “mistakes” such as unusual camera angles, “faulty” focus and movement during long time exposures that resulted in the ghosting of the body. These effects mirrored his strategies in painting and graphic works, but because Munch considered himself to be an amateur, he did not exhibit his photographs.

In this exhibition we show a large selection of Munch’s photographs and invite you to get acquainted with one of the lesser known aspects of his work.

The exhibition was orginally produced by The American Scandinavian Foundation/Scandinavia House, New York in collaboration with MUNCH, Oslo. It has formerly been displayed in cities such as New York and Stockholm. 

Curators: Patricia Berman and Trine Otte Bak Nielsen (MUNCH).

The exhibition displays reproductions of original photos. 

Key works

Edvard Munch: Edvard Munch on the beach with brush and palette. Collodion, 1907. Photo © Munchmuseet
Edvard Munch: Self-Portrait with Hat (Left Profile) at Ekely. Silver Gelatine, 1930. Photo © Munchmuseet
Edvard Munch: Edvard Munch nude. Collodion, 1903. Photo © Munchmuseet
Edvard Munch: Self-Portrait with Housekeeper at 53 Am Strom in Warnemünde. Collodion, 1907. Photo © Munchmuseet
 Edvard Munch: Munch's Dog "Fips". Silver Gelatine, 1930. Photo © Munchmuseet