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
Edvard Munch's Aula paintings
The decoration of the University Aula in Oslo was among Edvard Munch's most comprehensive art projects, and a prestigious and controversial assignment in its time.
The 11 pictures are the only expressionist monumental paintings preserved in their original context. The motifs show the university's activities and history, enlightenment and the great, eternal forces of nature and mankind.
The Aula decoration is part of UiO's art collection.