Edvard Munch: Images of Life and Death

... and get ready to travel if you aspire to 'know' the paintings of Edvard Munch (1863-1944). Looking over the reproductions in this small-format Taschen edition, you'll quickly notice that the large majority of them are in the museums of Oslo and Bergen, in the artist's native Norway. Yes, there are some very fine Munchs in Berlin, Lübeck, and Stuttgart, and a sampling in America. Few painters of the enormous stature of Edvard Munch, however, are so 'concentrated' in their homelands. But it's not inappropriate for Munch; it's as hard to comprehend Munch's vision without Norway as it is to comprehend modern Norway without Ibsen and Munch.On the other hand, as you'll read in the text of this Taschen book, by Ulrich Bischoff, Edvard Much is generally perceived among art historians as the most significant "bridge" between the French post-impressionists and the German expressionists. That's the sort of insight one can draw from the plates in this book, some of which seem remarkably close to Cezanne and Monet while others leap forward over van Gogh to Kokoschka and Beckmann. Yet Munch is one of the most 'recognizable' of painters; it's rare to see a painting of his for the first time, across a gallery, without instantly identifying the artist. Chiefly that's because of his unique combination of the most formal vertical/horizontal axis compositions with the most informal, improvisational brushwork and his thin washes of color.The utility of a book like this is limited, I think, to being an "aide to memory". If you've never seen at least a sample of Munch's paintings, you can't possibly imagine their impact from these little shiny pages. Munch was first a painter's painter, in terms of building an audience, but his paintings are less about Art than about Life. He himself grouped his works in what he called "Friezes of Life", and his themes were always the stages of life - childhood/youth/maturity/age - and the basic involvements of life - sexual intimacy/hostility, sickness, loneliness, and death. Munch seldom painted anything to be decorative. He sought emotional impact above all. Many of his paintings are fearsomely grim, to be honest about them, and dark and yes, depressing. But don't think you can "live without them" until you've had a chance to experience them.

Great series of artist books offering a general overview of each artist and their work.

Good book, new

I ordered this MUNCH art book made by TASCHEN but I received another book about the same artist by TASCHEN. So honestly I cannot write a review about this book cover but I can write about the book that I received instead. The book has GREAT color images. Goes about Munchs life and the details in the artworks. If you are a Munch lover then this book is a great addiction to your collection. Its a great coffee table book too:-)

Good book.

My sister loved it and it was as described

Everything great!

Of all the illustrations that could have been chosen to put on the back cover of a book about such a gifted artist, WHY did they choose that one? I got it to give to my teenage son to start him on a road to art appreciation. As soon as I take the book out of the mail package, I'm like, "Oh, how nice, the text is light, the pics are richly full-colored . . . WTF is up with the back cover?"Yessssss, the photo can be considered art. Oh yes, apropos to Munch's mind-mode. Nothing shameful about the male nude body, thank you for reminding me.And still, THAT photo was chosen to share the prime real estate of the dust cover? And of a basic art book that parents would otherwise want to share with their kids?Hey, if you're considering getting this book, I thought it only fair you see the back cover as well. It somehow didn't make it to the description's photos when I bought it.

I liked my friend liking it.

Bueno!!

Wie erwartet.H.W.

Excelente !!

a+