By Michael Zöllner
Norway’s art star Edvard Munch once caused a scandal in Berlin. The artist, who was still unknown at the time, did the only right thing: he moved to the Spree and became world famous. This is now shown in an exhibition in the Berlinische Galerie.
After three days, the scandal was over. In 1892, the Berlin public was not yet ready for Edvard Munch’s (1863-1944) colorful, emotional paintings. It was the Norwegian’s first solo exhibition in Berlin; 55 works were shown in the conservative association of Berlin artists.
At the end of the 19th century, Berlin was enthusiastic about romantic, nationalistic, Nordic depictions of fjords and landscapes. The emperor also sailed his yacht to the fjords every year.
Munch’s paintings destroyed these ideas, and he also painted powerfully and emotionally. His works were considered unfinished, sketchy and simply outrageous. The Munch scandal was perfect, the show was over and the Norwegian was happy. Nothing better could have happened to him, he said. So he moved to Berlin and started his global career here.
“Youth on the Beach (The Linde Frieze)” from 1904 Photo: Munchmuseet
It is all the more surprising that only now, after around 130 years, is an exhibition dealing with the mutual influence of Munch and Berlin.
The show “Edvard Munch. Magic of the North” in the Berlinische Galerie. Since the house does not own any of the artist’s own works, only works on loan can be seen.
Anyone expecting Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” won’t find it, but don’t be disappointed. The variety of works is impressive. Photos that Munch took in Berlin can also be seen. Thomas Köhler, director of the Berlinische Galerie, is justifiably “totally happy,” as he said.
Incidentally, Munch was a regular on the Spree until 1908 and had a decisive influence on Berlin’s emergence into modernity. But Berlin also made him an art star.
Adolf Paul, a German-Swedish-Finnish writer, summed up Munch’s Berlin years: “The artists all swear by Paris, and they may be right. But they have to have a dash of Berlin – their art has to have it in order to really flourish (…) From Munch, who learned in Paris but became in Berlin.”
September 15, 2023 to January 22, 2024, Alte Jakobsstraße 124-128, 15/9 euros, ☎ 78 90 26 00