Elm Forest in Spring c. 1923

Edvard Munch made this painting of an Elm Forest in Spring with oil on canvas. Munch wasn’t trying to copy the look of a forest exactly, but to find a way to show his experience of being in it. I love how he lets you see the process, the way he’s put the paint down to build the image. Check out the area in the foreground, at the bottom of the painting. See the almost mosaic-like pattern of colours. Look at how he used these separate blobs and dashes of paint to create a sense of depth and texture. It’s not just about what he’s painting, but how he’s painting it, how the paint itself becomes part of the feeling of the picture. Munch's raw approach reminds me of Van Gogh, another artist who wasn't afraid to show his hand. Both of them remind us that painting is a way of thinking, a way of feeling, and a way of being in the world.