The History
A people's approach to the field of history
Listen to the text:
The painting The History is one of the three main works in Edvard Munch's Aula decoration. In a composed landscape, under a large tree, an elderly man sits and tells stories to a young boy who listens attentively.
The old man is dressed in patchwork, like a fisherman, with a red hat that symbolises freedom. He represents the nation and the people's history.
The discipline of history was often symbolized by a classical figure. In contrast, the conversation between the old man and the modern boy shows the subject of history in an oral form: a people's approach to academic studies and nation building.
?The science of history is here brought back to its origin – oral storytelling? – Jens Thiis
Details
- Technique and materials: Oil on canvas
- Date: 1911/1914–1916
- Dimensions: 455 x 1160 cm
- Woll: 968
- UiO.K: 01400