Edvard Munch

In cooperation with MUNCH in Oslo, the Berlinische Galerie presents about 80 works by Edvard Munch in the exhibition "Magic of the North". With Berlin, Munch had a special history, as his first appearance there caused a great stir: in 1982, he accepted an exhibition invitation from the Association of Berlin Artists, which, however, ended in a scandal. Similar to his home country Norway, his works were considered too sketchy and unfinished, so the show was closed after only a short time. His bold, expressive style, which explored topics of human existence such as death, illness, fear or despair, challenged the visual habits of the time. After his "provocative" appearance, which marked the beginning of modernism in Berlin, Munch by no means turned his back on the Spree, but repeatedly lived in Germany for extended periods from 1892 to 1908 before settling permanently in Norway in 1909.

The exhibition takes a closer look at the relationship between Munch and Berlin through paintings, prints and photographs. Works by other artists, including Walter Leistikow or Akseli Gallen-Kallela, who captured their own views of the North and the art scene in Berlin in the late 19^th century, complement the show.