Matter of Taste

matter of taste | art & soul
Self Portrait With a Bottle of Wine (1906) – Edvard Munch
Norwegian expressionist painter Edvard Munch was known for painting intense psychological tension and drama. His
iconic composition The Scream – created in four distinct versions in both oils and pastels – is one of the most instantly
recognizable images in art history. In May 2012, a pastel version sold for US$119.9 million at auction.
Like many of Munch’s works, this self-portrait is a representation of the artist’s psyche. A solitary man sits at a
table in an almost empty restaurant, conveying a feeling of loneliness and uncertainty. Frantic almost vertiginous brush
strokes, and the clash of dull greens and blues with the warmer tones of yellow and red, serve to create a mood of
oppression. Across from the despondent figure sit a bottle of wine and a glass – his only companions and his solace.
PHoto Photo Getty ImaGes
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