In the Tavern, Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch
In the Tavern
DE
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Edvard Munch

In the Tavern, 1890


Dimensions
64.5 x 71.7 cm
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Inventory Number
SG 365
Acquisition
Acquired in 1925
Status
On display, 1st upper level, Modern Art, room 8

Texts

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.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
In the Tavern
Painter
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Oil on canvas
Material
Technique
Label at the Time of Manufacture
Signiert und datiert unten links: E. Munch 1890

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Departement
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 1925

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Associated Persons and Institutions

Iconclass

Primary
  • 43B31(+13) inn, coffee-house, public house, etc. (+ innkeeper, host)
  • 31D14(+3) adult man (+ sideview, profile)
  • 31D14(+1) adult man (+ front view)
  • 31A231 standing figure
Secondary
  • 41D(+7) fashion, clothing (+ worn or torn clothes)
  • 41A774 container of glass: bottle, jar, vase
  • 61E(SAINT-CLOUD) names of cities and villages (SAINT-CLOUD)
Associative

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Last update

13.03.2024