Evening on Karl Johan, 1892
(Picture: KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, Bergen, Norway)This little exhibition – and by little, I mean just 18 paintings – just goes to show what can be done in a small space. In just two rooms we see the development of Edvard Munch from an aspiring Impressionist – the locals rather cruelly dubbed him Bizarro upon seeing his Spring Day on Karl Johan (he was channelling Pisarro) – to the Munch of the staring eyes and haunted anonymity of Evening on Karl Johan.
Yes, these two paintings at opposite ends of the Munch spectrum represent the same street; one is joyous and colourful, the other, as near as dammit to you-know-what (The Scream). Actually, can I say right now that an exhibition on Munch that doesn’t feature The Scream is very welcome. These paintings are the highlights of the important Munch collection assembled by the far-sighted Rasmus Meyer, and donated to the city of Bergen, and will save admirers the trouble and expense of a trip to Norway.
