The Sun 1910 - 1912

Edvard Munch made The Sun using oil paint, and its a kind of joyful explosion on board. Look at how Munch lays down each brushstroke with visible texture and individual colours. It's like each dab of paint is a little building block in his world. The paint is thick, almost sculptural in places, like he's building the sun right in front of us. Notice the way the light flares out from the sun, radiating energy through these distinct marks. There's a raw, almost frantic energy here, but also this incredible sense of light. There's an area at the bottom, that looks like a boat or a tulip, depending on your mood. Munch's bold use of colour and expressive brushwork reminds me of Van Gogh, though Munch is maybe even more preoccupied with psychological states. It's all about expressing inner feelings rather than just representing the world. In a way, he's showing us that art isn't about answers, but about embracing the questions.