Edvard Munch Portraits

This beautifully illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition Edvard Munch: Portraits, held at the National Portrait Gallery in London from March 13 to June 15, 2025. Offering a fresh look at one of the most iconic figures of modern art, the publication focuses exclusively on Munch’s portraiture — a lesser-known yet deeply revealing aspect of his work.

Featuring over 60 paintings, prints, and drawings, the catalog highlights the Norwegian artist’s powerful ability to convey psychological depth and emotional intensity through the human face. From close friends and family to cultural figures like August Strindberg, these portraits blur the line between inner experience and outward appearance. Through Munch’s eyes, portraiture becomes a tool for exploring love, isolation, mortality, and the complexities of identity.

Edited by Alison Smith, with contributions by leading Munch scholars, the catalog provides a compelling overview of the artist’s evolving approach to the portrait over six decades. It is a must-have for anyone interested in Munch, Nordic modernism, or the art of psychological expression.