Art

Title: Madonna
Artist: Edvard Munch
Date: 1894-1895 (one of several versions)
Medium: Oil on canvas

About the Painting:

"Madonna" is one of Edvard Munch's most striking and controversial works, offering a deeply unconventional depiction of a traditional religious subject.
Instead of a demure, pious figure, Munch presents a sensuous, idealized woman in a moment of ecstasy or transcendence.

Her eyes are closed, head tilted back, and body arched, conveying a powerful blend of surrender and passion.
The halo, a traditional symbol of holiness, here takes on a blood-red hue, suggesting a fusion of sacred and profane love.

Munch often framed this image with a border featuring spermatozoa and a fetal form, emphasizing themes of fertility, birth, and death.
This radical interpretation challenged contemporary norms, exploring the complex interplay of love, desire, and the life cycle.
"Madonna" remains a powerful statement on the human experience, celebrating the beauty and mystery of existence in its rawest form.

Want to see an example of this frame with different art? Visit our in-world display