The Dead Mother 1900

Edvard Munch painted "The Dead Mother" with oil on canvas, though its exact creation date remains unknown. Here, the artist confronts mortality through a child's eyes. A young girl covers her ears, seemingly to block out the sounds or the reality of her mother's death, which is visible in the background. Munch, a Norwegian artist working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was deeply influenced by the Symbolist movement, which rejected realism in favor of emotional and psychological expression. The prevalence of disease in 19th-century Europe, particularly tuberculosis, shaped social attitudes towards death. The painting then becomes a commentary on the era's social structure, where death, especially among women, left children vulnerable. Understanding this image requires considering the historical context of public health, family structures, and artistic movements. By consulting medical records, social histories, and art criticism, we can better appreciate how Munch's work reflects and challenges the norms of his time.