To liggende akter 1913 - 1914

Edvard Munch rendered these reclining figures with watercolor. The bodies, sketched with gentle lines, evoke the classical motif of the reclining nude, a symbol deeply rooted in art history, often associated with Venus, the goddess of love, and the pleasures of the flesh. Munch, however, introduces a modern tension. These are not goddesses, but human figures, vulnerable and perhaps troubled. The motif of reclining figures can be found in Titian's "Venus of Urbino" and Goya's "Maja Desnuda." The shift in emotional tone is palpable. Here, the figures seem lost in contemplation, their bodies conveying a sense of psychological exposure rather than erotic invitation. The evolution of this motif reflects a broader cultural shift. From the idealized sensuality of the Renaissance to the anxious introspection of the modern era. We witness the power of art to capture the ever-changing human condition.