In the latest episode of the podcast „Augen zu“ by ZEIT and ZEIT ONLINE, Florian Illies and Giovanni die Lorenzo focus on a painter who had been requested by countless listeners.Edvard MunchThe two hosts explore the question of what the „new“ in art actually is, using paintings from around 1890 as examples. They also discuss how something new can still have a revolutionary impact even 150 years later. Edvard Munch is an excellent example of this, as he made the inner world of humans, their emotions, fears, and hopes, the central theme of his artwork. He discovered the unconscious mind at the same time as Sigmund Freud and was able to depict it in his paintings.
The contemporaries were often repulsed by this, as Munch primarily depicted the negative emotional space in which we as humans exist: between rejection, anger, jealousy, and longing. His greatest contribution is incorporating these inner emotions into the bodies of his figures and the entire landscape. Melancholy, love, and jealousy are some of his most significant works.
If you want to get to know his art, you currently have an excellent opportunity in Germany: The Berlinische Galerie is showcasing the exhibition Munch. Magic of the North until January 21, 2024, and it becomes clear that it was in Berlin where Munch truly became Munch. In parallel, starting from November, the Barberini Museum in Potsdam will exhibit Edvard Munch as a landscape painter.
You can find all episodes of our podcast here. If you have any praise, criticism, or comments, feel free to write to us at augenzu@zeit.de.
In the latest episode of the Augen zu podcast by ZEIT and ZEIT ONLINE, Florian Illies and Giovanni die Lorenzo focus on a painter who had been requested by countless listeners.Edvard MunchThe two hosts explore the question of what the „new“ in art actually is and how it is possible for something new to still be revolutionary 150 years later, using Edvard Munch’s paintings from around 1890 as an excellent example. Munch made the inner world of humans, their emotions, fears, and hopes, the central theme of his artwork – he discovered the unconscious simultaneously with Sigmund Freud and was able to depict it through his paintings.