The Dance of Life

The Dance of Life
Munch_Dance-of-Life
Artist Edvard Munch
Year 1899
Medium Oil on canvas
Location Nasjonalgalleriet at Oslo
Dimensions 49 1/2 x 75 in
126 x 190
Famous Paintings by Edvard Munch
The Scream
The Sick Child
Death in the Sickroom
The Dance of Life
Madonna
Vampire
Anxiety
Ashes
Puberty
Complete Works

Finished in 1899, the The Dance of Life by Edvard Munch is merely a representation of one of his internal conflicts. Hating the concept of marriage, Munch uses three female figures to describe 3 stages of life. The woman in white symbolizes purity, youth and virginity. In the opposite side, the woman dressed in black is a visual representation of death and loneliness. The center showcases a man dancing with a woman in red, the color of emotion, drama and blood. She is the perfect representation of a temptress fallen in love with the man besides her. The close proximity between the women represents the shortness of life and the transition from one stage to another.

Edvard Munch

Born on December 12, 1863 in Norway, Edvard was mainly known for his contribution to German Expressionism. Even if he enrolled in engineering, his artistic development was related to his studies. After learning about perspective and scaled drawing, the artist abandoned college and became a painter. His travels to Italy with Tulla Larsen inspired him to create The Dance of Life.