Inger in Black and Violet
- Artist: Edvard Munch
- Creation date: 1892
About
In the portrait of Edvard Munch’s sister Inger we see a young woman standing face on, erect and monumental. Her expression is controlled yet guarded, her posture constrained, her gaze thoughtful and introverted. Her hands are folded and her hair is tied back away from her pale face. The impression of chaste modesty is reinforced by the high black collar of her dress, tightly clasping her neck.
Inger Munch stands in front of a cool blue-grey wall that seems to form a vacuum around her, thus underlining the impression of isolation. At the same time the colour of the floor on which she is standing is warm and earthy. This surprising colour contrast creates a complex statement that alternates between the ethereal and the earthbound.
Edvard Munch is well known for the psychological depth he gives to personal characteristics. This portrait of his sister is one of his first monumental full-length portraits. Here he follows a long art historical tradition. In his portraits, Munch concentrates on the essential element of the model. He often places his figures against empty or only very sparsely furnished rooms, allowing their personality to be conveyed by their posture, eyes, face and hands, together with the expressive qualities of the colours employed.
This picture was purchased for the National Gallery in 1899.
- Creation date:
- 1892
- Other titles:
- Inger i svart og fiolett (NOR)
- Object type:
- Painting
- Materials and techniques:
- Olje på lerret
- Material:
- Canvas
- Dimensions:
- Width: 122.5 cm
- Height: 172.5 cm
- Keywords:
- Visual art
- Classification:
- 532 - Bildende kunst
- Motif:
- Portrait
- Motif - type:
- Portrait
- Motif - person:
- Munch, Inger (depicted person)
- Inventory no.:
- NG.M.00499
- Cataloguing level:
- Single object
- Acquisition:
- Purchased 1899
- Owner and collection:
- Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections
- Photo:
- Høstland, Børre
- Dreams of a summer night. Scandinavian painting at the turn of the centuryLondon, Storbritannia(1986)
Nasjonalmuseet's collection catalogue is a living resource of information gathered since the 1830's. Some records may contain language or ideas that today could be perceived as outdated, offensive or discriminatory with regard to for instance gender, sexuality, ethnicity or disability, and that may be at odds with the museum's values regarding equality and diversity.
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Other works by Edvard Munch
Night in NiceEdvard Munch(1891)
Mother and DaughterEdvard MunchAntagelig 1897
MoonlightEdvard Munch1895
Winter on the FjordEdvard Munch1915
The Frenchman. Marcel ArchinardEdvard MunchAntagelig 1904
Mrs. SchwarzEdvard Munch(1906)
PubertyEdvard Munch(1894)
Garden in Snow IIEdvard MunchPlaten utført 1913; trykket 1913
The ScreamEdvard Munch1893
Study of a HeadEdvard Munch1883
MadonnaEdvard Munch(1894)
Street in Kragerø with ChildrenEdvard Munch1910


















































