The Village Street 1906

Edvard Munch’s painting, The Village Street, shows a winter scene with a group of figures, painted in oil on canvas. The painting is undated, but was probably painted around 1900 in Norway. The distorted perspective and unnaturalistic coloring are typical of Munch's Expressionist style. Consider the historical context: turn-of-the-century Norway was experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, which led to social and cultural upheaval. Artists like Munch reflected these changes in their work, challenging traditional artistic conventions. Here we see the artist expressing anxiety about modernity. The village street may symbolize a loss of innocence, of community, of tradition, and maybe childhood itself. Notice how the child-like figures in the painting seem isolated and alienated from one another. Art history is about understanding the context in which art is made. To learn more, you might consider researching Norwegian history, the Expressionist movement, and the artist's biography.