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The Dance of Life

Edvard Munch · 1899 · National Museum, Oslo
The Dance of Life

The artist

Edvard Munch, a Norwegian painter who showed strong feelings through color and shape.

What you see

People dance on a summer evening by the sea while three women in white, red, and black look on.

The story

Munch painted this dreamy dance in 1899 to show the different stages of life.

The style

He used flowing, wavy shapes and a big golden moon reflecting in a long line on the water.

Look closer

The woman in white is young and hopeful, and the one in black stands quiet at the edge.

Where to see it

You can see it at the National Museum in Oslo, Norway.

Fun fact

The three women in one painting show the same idea of growing from young to old.