1880-1892
Munch's Early Involvement with Naturalism, Impressionism and Symbolism

Munch’s handling of materials and techniques was already experimental and unconventional in the early years of his career. Under the influence of bohemian circles in Kristiania (now Oslo), the young artist gradually abandoned outdoor painting and began to focus on the human figure. As a result of his unusual method of paint application, as in Self-Portrait, his pictures grew less and less naturalistic. Munch applied the paint directly and in several layers, sometimes using a palette knife, and scraped off passages or scratched into the paint surface, thus emphasizing its tangible, physical presence.