Untitled 6 

This image is an undated watercolor by Edvard Munch showing a crowd scene dominated by the colour blue. Munch was a Norwegian artist who came to prominence at a time when the institutions of art were going through a period of dramatic change. In the late 19th century there was a growing appetite to see art that represented modern life. The art academies were seen as outdated and unable to capture this new sensibility. New exhibition spaces were opened to showcase works by artists who were willing to push the boundaries. Munch emerged as one such artist and he is now regarded as one of the pioneers of expressionism. His works convey powerful feelings through the exaggeration and distortion of form, using expressive colour and brushstrokes. To fully understand his art you must consider the social context in which it was made, which can be achieved by looking at archive material, reviews, and other historical documents.