Munch / Van Gogh

The affinities between Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) and Edvard Munch (1863–1944) have long been noted, yet a formal comparative study of the two artists has never been made. Known for emotionally charged paintings, deeply personal and innovative styles, and dramatic lives of hardship, both Van Gogh and Munch fundamentally shaped the modern art movement in late-19th-century Europe.Munch:Van Gogh is the first publication to compare these two infamous and influential artists side by side, offering a groundbreaking critical examination of the parallels between their oeuvres and artistic ambitions. Gorgeously illustrated, the book offers a close consideration of the artists’ uses of color, stylization, brushwork, and unconventional compositions in both paintings and drawings. The authors also draw connections between Van Gogh’s and Munch’s evocative and poignant correspondence with family and friends, allowing readers to understand more profoundly the essence of their art.

Maite Van Dijk is curator of prints and drawings at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Magne Bruteig is senior curator of prints and drawings at the Munch Museum in Oslo. Leo Jansen is researcher and editor of the Mondrian Edition Project at Huygens ING (KNAW) and RKD, The Hague.