The exhibition also shows how Munch’s artistic vision was shaped by the radical ideas expressed in art, literature, science and theatre in Europe during his lifetime. His most innovative period of printmaking, between the 1890s and the end of the First World War, coincided with a great period of societal change in Europe which Munch experienced through constant travel across the continent on the vast rail network. The exhibition will pay particular attention to three European cities that had major influence on him and his printmaking – Kristiania (Oslo), Paris and Berlin. A small selection of Munch’s personal postcards and maps are used to give a flavour of Munch’s journeys.

Edvard Munch is regarded as one the greatest artists of the early 20^th century, and was a pioneer of modern art. Born near Kristiania (today’s Oslo) in 1863, his childhood was plagued by family death and illness. His later life saw him lead a bohemian lifestyle and was marked by frequent tumultuous love affairs. Two key sections of the exhibition demonstrate his passion, but also his fear, of women. He was deeply influenced by contemporary ideas, thinkers and artists including Max Klinger, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud and Henrik Ibsen and his work would go on to influence many other artists both during his lifetime and after his death in Oslo in 1944. A number of works by other artists are displayed here to highlight these links.

This is the first exhibition the British Museum has ever dedicated to Munch and visitors can discover his vast body of remarkable work and the culture and society that influenced it.  

Hartwig Fischer, Director of the British Museum said: “The British Museum is delighted to be staging this fascinating and challenging exhibition dedicated to the captivating work of Edvard Munch. We are honoured that the Munch Museum in Oslo have sent us one of their biggest international loans of Munch’s prints, which can be seen alongside a number of key Munch works in the British Museum’s collection. Together, this survey of Munch’s pioneering art allows visitors to see why he is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. We are grateful for the generous support of AKO Foundation which has enabled us to put on this fascinating show.”

Giulia Bartrum, curator of Edvard Munch: love and angst, said “This rare version of the Scream that we’re displaying at the British Museum makes clear that Munch’s most famous artwork depicts a person hearing a ‘scream’ and not, as many people continue to assume and debate, a person screaming. I hope people will take the chance to come and view this exquisite work in the context of the other 80 works where Munch masterfully depicts raw human emotion, to think again about what he was trying to express with this beautiful and haunting image.”