About
- Edvard Munch collection catalogue
The painting depicts Betzy Nilsen, a young woman who was a model for several of Munch's works in the years around 1886, including for the paintings Rødhåret pike med hvit rotte (Red-Haired Girl with White Rat) (1886, Woll 2008, M 131), The Sick Child (The National Museum, NG.M.00839) and Spring ((National Museum, NG.M.00408). The muted colour scheme and the emphasis on the girl's bright face are typical of Munch's early portraits, although the execution is freer. The pale, pastose treatment of the face and the red hair contrast with the greyish-green of the wall-like background. Stylistically, the work has something in common with paintings such as The Sick Child and Self-Portrait (The National Museum, NG.M.01915), both from 1886.
Munch produced a number of similar small portraits and study heads in the years around 1886. There are reasons to regard the painting as an independent portrait, but the combination of the girl's loose hair, remote expression and pale skin also attract comparison with his depictions of ailing girls. Munch became acquainted with Betzy Nilsen via his father's work as a visiting doctor. For a time she also worked as a maid in the Munch household (Dagbladet, 30 December 1950). The facial features are similar to those of the young girl in Spring and The Sick Child. The work was stolen from the National Gallery on 23 August 1993 and has not been recovered. Exhibited for the first time in 1927, it was long assumed to be a preliminary study for The Sick Child. Accordingly, it was dated to 1885. But subsequent X-ray analysis revealed a signature that had been puttied and painted over and which indicates 1887 to be the earliest possible year of production (Plahter 1974). The painting was among the works that Olaf Schou gifted to the National Gallery in 1909.
Øystein Ustvedt
The text was first published in Edvard Munch in the National Museum. A comprehensive overview (Oslo: National Museum, 2022).
- Creation date:
- 1887
- Other titles:
- Portrettstudie (NOR)
Betzy Nilsen (NOR) - Object type:
- Painting
- Materials and techniques:
- Olje på lerret
- Material:
- Canvas
- Dimensions:
- Width: 29 cm
- Height: 25.5 cm
- Keywords:
- Visual art
- Classification:
- 532 - Bildende kunst
- Motif - type:
- Figure study, Portrait
- Inventory no.:
- NG.M.03054
- Cataloguing level:
- Single object
- Inscriptions:
- Primary, Inscription: E M 87 [sign. kun synlig på røntgenfotografi]
- Acquisition:
- Gave fra Olaf Schou 1909
- Owner and collection:
- Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections
- Photo:
- Jacques Lathion
- Hansen, Vibeke Waallann, et al. Edvard Munch i Nasjonalmuseet: en samlet oversikt. Redigert av Ustvedt, Øystein, et al. Oslo: Nasjonalmuseet, 2022. kat.nr. 10.
- Woll, Gerd. Edvard Munch: Samlede malerier: B. 1: 1880-1897. Oslo: Cappelen Damm, 2008. kat.nr. 144.
- Nasjonalgalleriet, red. Norske malerier. Katalog. Oslo, 1992. 336.
- Skedsmo, Tone. Edvard Munch. Utstillingskatalog. Essen: Museum Folkwang Essen, 1987. 128.
- Eggum, Arne. Edvard Munch: malerier, skisser og studier. Oslo: Stenersen, 1983. 45.
- Plahter, Leif Einar. «Det syke barn og Vår. En røntgenundersøkelse av to Munch-bilder». Kunst og kultur 57, nr. 2 (1974). 115.
- Nasjonalgalleriet, red. Katalog over norsk malerkunst: med 158 illustrasjoner. Oslo, 1968. kat.nr. 1263.
- Nasjonalgalleriet, red. Katalog over norsk malerkunst. Oslo, 1950. kat.nr. 1046.
- Nasjonalgalleriet, red. Norsk malerkunst i Nasjonalgalleriet. Oslo, 1933. kat.nr. 937.
- Thiis, Jens. Edvard Munch og hans samtid: Slekten, livet og kunsten, geniet. Oslo: Gyldendal, 1933. 133–4.
- Gauguin, Pola. Edvard Munch. Oslo: Aschehoug, 1933. 44.
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
The Day AfterEdvard Munch(1894)
Inger in Black and VioletEdvard Munch1892
Andreas ReadingEdvard MunchMellom 1882 og 1883
Self-Portrait with CigaretteEdvard Munch1895
Thorvald LøchenEdvard Munch1918
Autumn PloughingEdvard Munch1919
House with Red Virginia CreeperEdvard MunchAntagelig mellom 1898 og 1899
Tupsy JebeEdvard Munch1896
Workers Returning HomeEdvard Munch1920
Seated NudeEdvard Munch(1913)
Scene from BygdøyEdvard MunchCirka 1881
WomanEdvard MunchCirka 1894

















































