Edvard Munch: Madonna (1894) | Norwegian Art Poster

An expressive art poster featuring Edvard Munch’s Madonna from 1894. With closed eyes, flowing black hair and a deep red halo, the female figure moves between sensual presence and religious symbolism.

Printed locally on heavyweight matte paper, as close to you as possible. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.

• One of Edvard Munch’s most discussed motifs
• Painted in 1894
• Original version from The National Museum in Oslo
• Symbolist treatment of love, sexuality and mortality
• Printed on 200 gsm premium matte paper
• Available in four sizes
• Frame not included

A figure between lover and saint

The woman arches her back with one arm behind her head and the other behind her body. Her eyes are closed, and the dark lines surrounding her seem to move in waves. The pose carries a feeling of surrender, while the red shape around her head recalls the halo of a religious Madonna.

Munch replaced the traditional golden halo with a blood-red one. The title therefore creates an immediate tension between the sacred associations of the Virgin Mary and the sensuality of the nude figure.

Love, sexuality and death

Madonna emerged from Munch’s work with subjects later gathered under the title The Frieze of Life. The series explored fundamental human experiences such as attraction, jealousy, anxiety, separation and death.

The painting connects creation and mortality. The woman can be read as a lover, a mother or an idealised religious figure. Munch leaves these interpretations open, allowing contradictory associations to remain active within the same image.

“The woman in a state of abandon acquires the painful beauty of a Madonna.”

Five painted versions

Between 1894 and 1897, Munch painted five versions of Madonna. Their presentation and dimensions are closely related, and none of the surviving paintings carries a date.

The version reproduced on this poster belongs to The National Museum in Oslo. Recent technical research identifies it as the first of the five painted versions, although it was previously regarded as the second.

The controversial frame

Munch originally placed at least one painted version in a wooden frame decorated with sperm cells and a foetus. The frame appears to have offended some contemporary viewers and was soon replaced.

He preserved the idea in his lithographic version of Madonna, where the sperm cells and foetus became part of the printed border. This made the connection between sexuality, conception and death more explicit.

The Berlin circle

When Munch developed the motif, he belonged to an international circle that met at the Berlin café Zum Schwarzen Ferkel. Its members included August Strindberg, Stanisław Przybyszewski and Dagny Juel.

The group discussed art, sexuality and the changing relationship between men and women. These themes also shaped several of Munch’s central paintings from the 1890s.

About Edvard Munch

Edvard Munch was born in Løten in 1863 and became one of the most influential artists of modern European art. His paintings and prints examine emotional states through simplified forms, restless lines and colours chosen for their psychological effect.

Madonna belongs to the same fertile period as The Scream, Vampire, Anxiety and The Day After.

Artwork details

Available sizes

A powerful Munch motif for your wall

The deep black hair, pale skin and intense red halo give the poster a strong graphic presence. It works well as a single focal point in a living room, bedroom or study and can also become part of a gallery wall devoted to modern or Scandinavian art.

Explore more works in our Norwegian art collection.

Frequently asked questions

What does Munch’s Madonna depict?

It depicts a nude woman with closed eyes and a red halo. Munch combines sensual, religious and existential associations in the figure.

How many painted versions exist?

Munch painted five versions of Madonna between 1894 and 1897.

Which version is reproduced on this poster?

The poster reproduces the 1894 version in The National Museum in Oslo, currently considered the first painted version.

Was Madonna part of The Frieze of Life?

Yes. Munch included the motif in the group of works that developed into The Frieze of Life.

What paper is the poster printed on?

It is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm quality paper with a matte, non-reflective surface.

Is a frame included?

No. The frame is not included, allowing you to choose one that suits the poster and your interior.