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various perspectives
The Painting:
- The disturbing and enigmatic landscape is created by the steep slope of the floor and the
thick shadows that obliterate everything in the room
- Somber brown tones blend with violets and blues in a loosely applied palette, evoking a
sense of melancholy and expectation.
- The window serves as a symbolic barrier between the inside and the outside world. The
sense of mystery is heightened and exacerbated by the fact that we cannot see the girl's
countenance or know what she is secretly seeing.
- She, in turn, appears to be unconscious that the artist and suggested spectator are observing
her as she gazes from behind the curtain at something unknown outside.
The Girl by the Window | The Art Institute of Chicago
Historical & Social Context: (Norway 1893)
- a clay slide in Verdal destroyed 105 farms and killed 116 people.
- In the nineteenth century, Norway's nationalism grew. In 1882, things came to a head. The
Norwegian parliament, known as the Storting, approved a bill requiring members of the
government to participate in debates in the Storting. The bill was enacted three times by the
Storting, but each time it was vetoed by Swedish King Oscar II.
- The Norwegians eventually opted to impeach the entire government. They were impeached,
convicted, and forced to resign in 1884. Following it, the king was forced to submit. Norway
became a parliamentary democracy after that.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NORWAY
Events in Munch’s life around 1893:
- Edvard Munch moved to Paris in 1889, where his style began to develop under the influence
of Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gaugin’s conveyance of emotion through colour.
Reserve Pieces:
Old Man In Sorrow ( On the Threshold Of Eternity)
Van Gough
Painting - Oil on Canvas
1890
L'Homme au doigt
Sculpture by Alberto Giacometti