In the Tavern, 1890

About the Work

To Munch, Paris was "too loud" and "too expensive". In early 1890, he left the capital of art and moved into the Hotel Belvédère in the suburb of Saint-Cloud. It was probably here that he painted this picture of a tavern. In the centre of the painting, which is dominated by shades of brown, stands a man in shabby clothes. He looks at the viewer uncertainly, questioningly, while he himself is scrutinised sceptically by the landlord. The customer looks strangely isolated, and perhaps reflects Munch's situation in life at the time. His sojourn in Paris was overshadowed by the unexpected death of his father. Munch wrote at length in his notebooks about his sadness and loneliness while abroad.