Woman. Sphinx 1894

Edvard Munch created this painting, “Woman. Sphinx,” with oil on canvas. The composition consists of four figures set against a landscape. The figures, rendered with fluid brushstrokes, appear ghostly and somewhat surreal. The colour palette consists of muted tones, dominated by blues, greens, and yellows, creating a dreamlike and ethereal atmosphere. The contrast between the pale figures on the left and the darker figures on the right creates a sense of tension and opposition. Munch uses colour and form to engage with ideas about existentialism, the complexity of human relationships and the burdens of modern life. The semiotic system of signs explores themes of life and death, innocence and experience, desire and despair. Note the treatment of space and perspective, which flattens the figures into the foreground, heightening the sense of immediacy. While the title "Woman. Sphinx" evokes classical mythology, the painting transcends any single narrative, remaining a powerful expression of human emotion and psychological depth. Art’s purpose is not to deliver fixed meanings but to inspire ongoing reflection.