Munch and van Gogh finally meet in Oslo

Vincent van Gogh. Self-Portrait as a Painter, 1887-1888. From the van Gogh Museum,
Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
Van Gogh and Munch will be the first exhibition to focus on two of the leading
pioneers of Modern art, Vincent van Gogh (1853-90) and Edvard Munch (1863-1944).
In 1880, both set out to become artists: Van Gogh had just given up preaching
in the Borinage to move to Brussels to study at the art academy, while Munch
enrolled at art college in Kristiania (now Oslo).

Their paths never quite crossed. Munch went on a study trip to Antwerp
and Paris in spring 1885, but Van Gogh only arrived in Antwerp that autumn,
staying the winter before moving to Paris. In 1889, Munch returned to
Paris and stayed for three years. By that time, Van Gogh was at an asylum
in Saint-Rémy. He only spent three days in the French capital in May 1890
before moving to Auvers-sur-Oise, where he took his own life. However, it
is likely that Munch met Vincent’s brother, Theo, who ran the Boussod and
Valadon gallery, on his second visit to Paris. Vincent never saw Munch’s
paintings, but Munch discovered Van Gogh’s work in Paris, almost certainly
in the 1890 Salon des Indépendants.

The current exhibition has been organised jointly by the Munch Museum in
Oslo and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which has ensured key loans from
the two main collections. There will be 75 paintings and 30 works on paper.
These include some of the greatest works by the two artists, offering the
opportunity for some telling juxtapositions.

Munch’s Starry Night (1922-24) will be paired with one of the works that
inspired it, Van Gogh’s Starry Night over the Rhône (1888). Van Gogh’s
The Yellow House (1888) will be shown with Munch’s Red Virginia Creeper
(1898-1900), both of which depict houses in strong colours. The Munch
Museum’s crayon version of The Scream (1893) is to be juxtaposed with
Van Gogh’s The Bridge at Trinquetaille (1888). Both waterfront scenes
have a terrified figure in the foreground.

Van Gogh’s self-mutilation and suicide are universally known, but
Munch also suffered from psychological problems and was admitted
to a clinic for eight months in 1908-09. Van Gogh’s life came to
a premature end (it is often said that he only sold a single painting
by the time of his death, but he may have sold a couple more), whereas
Munch lived until 1944, eventually selling his work successfully.

Expressionist precursors

What, then, are the similarities that will come across in the exhibition?
In terms of subject matter, their work often revolves around the eternal
cycle of life. When it comes to technique, both use strong colours and
powerful brushwork. They are regarded as the precursors of Expressionism.

The two artists are now among the most popular in the world, so the
exhibition is likely to be a sell-out. In comparing their work, the Munc
h Museum curator Magne Bruteig says that both are immediately
eye-catching, grabbing your heart and emotions. But there is more:
“The heart leads to the brain, and then there is so much more to

discover in their paintings.” After Oslo, the presentation at the
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, runs from 24 September to 17 January 2016.


• Van Gogh and Munch, Munch Museet, Oslo, 9 May-6 September