Two Women in the Garden 1919

Edvard Munch’s ‘Two Women in the Garden’ is alive with loose brushstrokes of green, yellow, and blue. I can imagine Munch outdoors, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the light filtering through the leaves. Look at the woman on the right, her lips pursed around a piece of fruit, as if she's about to take a bite. Munch has rendered her with such directness, we can almost taste the sweetness she’s about to experience. The painting feels like a dance between observation and expression. The unpainted canvas peeks through, reminding us of the surface and flatness of the painting, but also that it is unfinished. I think of other artists like Bonnard or Vuillard who were also interested in capturing intimate scenes, and fleeting moments of everyday life. Munch is in conversation with them, pushing the boundaries of form, and emotion. It’s a reminder that painting isn't about perfection, but about the messy, beautiful, and ongoing exchange of ideas across time.