Four Girls in Arsgardstrand by Edvard Munch

This charming group painting explores the world of childhood through a frontal alignment of great graphic and psychological power. The painter deploys his characteristic sensitivity to capture the individuality and innocence of the young models under the benevolent gaze of Edvard Munch. This unique composition, which is entitled “Four Girls in Arsgardstrand”, presents a captivating children’s frieze where each character expresses a timid attitude toward the viewer.

Four young girls of different sizes are arranged in a straight line in the foreground, occupying almost the entire width of the canvas. The tallest on the left wears a grey dress and a large yellow hat of circular shape, while the smallest at her side sports a navy blue coat with large white buttons. On the right, the other two little girls wear dark coats, one wearing a bright red hood and the other a black hat over blonde hair. The background consists of an ocre yellow wall and a white drapery spotted with dark, while the ground adopts reddish shades.

The artist’s technical virtuosity is manifested in the bold simplification of shapes and the sharpness of the silhouettes that structure the composition. His mastery of oil painting offers a very soft rendering of children’s faces, confirming the quality of his technique.