Landowner in the Park 1903

Edvard Munch made this painting, Landowner in the Park, using oil paint on cardboard. He worked the medium in such a way that the final image gives the impression of material economy. Munch applied the oil paint directly onto the cardboard surface with loose brushstrokes and blocks of color. There is no sense of traditional techniques like layering or blending. The natural color of the cardboard remains visible, creating texture and depth, and contributing to the overall atmospheric effect. The painting is made with very little effort to depict the social status of the portrayed man. The simple processes and materials, combined with the subject matter, suggest a critique of traditional power structures and a deliberate rejection of conventional artistic values. Munch's focus on the material aspects of painting invites us to reconsider the role of materials and making in understanding the broader social context of art. He challenges distinctions between high art and craft.