The Storm, Right Part 1926 - 1927

Edvard Munch made this painting, “The Storm, Right Part,” using oil paints on canvas. Munch built up the painting in layers, using loose brushstrokes, blurred forms, and bold colors to evoke a mood of unease and emotional intensity. The naked bodies, particularly the figures with the darker coloring on their heads, are roughly painted, yet the artist applied great care to their depiction. They are set against a rugged landscape which appears to overwhelm them. The canvas is exposed in certain areas, adding to the painting's rough-hewn feel, which is tied to the Expressionist aesthetic. Munch’s process of painting is direct and physical, and the result feels unmediated, which may remind the viewer of the artist’s labor in his creation. It's as if Munch wants us to see his process, his own physical and emotional investment in the work. By emphasizing the materiality and the making process, we can move beyond conventional ideas about fine art, and consider the act of creation itself.