Edvard Munch: Starry Night.
by Louise Lippincott
Category: Art

The Norwegian artist Edvard Munch painted his Starry Night in 1893, and a century later it continues to intrigue and even mystify viewers. The subject and emotional content of the painting are powerfully felt and yet difficult to define with precision, and its style seems strangely far removed from the Impressionist and Realist paintings of the artist’s contemporaries. In her fascinating study, Louise Lippincott explores the genesis of this great painting, placing it in the context of Scandinavian art of the late nineteenth century and Munch’s own development as an artist. Her generously illustrated and detailed analysis provides a clear understanding of this haunting masterpiece, which is one of the most popular paintings in the J. Paul Getty Museum.