Edvard Munch's Profound Impact on Paula Rego Uncovered Through Historical Find
Edvard Munch, the iconic Nordic modernist, and Paula Rego, the influential Iberian figurative painter, have long been celebrated as giants in their respective artistic realms. However, for many years, the connection between these two luminaries remained hidden from public view. Now, a remarkable discovery has brought to light the formative role Munch played in shaping Rego's artistic journey and career trajectory.
Teenage Inspiration and a Revealing Letter
In 1951, a 16-year-old Paula Rego visited the Tate Gallery in London to see an exhibition of Edvard Munch's work. Deeply moved by the experience, she penned a letter to her mother, Maria, who was in Portugal at the time. In this newly unearthed correspondence, Rego expressed her awe, writing, "What impressed me most was an exhibition there by a modern Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch." She specifically mentioned Munch's famous painting The Scream and another piece titled Inheritance, describing the latter as "so impressive that you can't imagine." This letter, written in late 1951, provides concrete evidence of Munch's early influence on the young artist.
The Discovery of 'Drought' and Its Connection to Munch
About a year after seeing the exhibition, Rego created a small painting titled Drought, measuring 65cm by 22cm. This work, painted in 1953, depicts a pregnant woman with an open mouth carrying a skeletal infant, her face turned towards the sun. The colour palette used in Drought is strikingly reminiscent of Munch's The Scream, featuring bold reds and yellows applied in a rough, expressive manner. Rego rediscovered this painting in 2015 while tidying her family home in Portugal, and it was later unearthed by her son, Nick Willing, and the head of her estate in October 2023.
Art Historian's Detective Work and Exhibition Plans
Kari J Brandtzæg, an art historian at Norway's Munch Museum, examined Drought and immediately noted its visual dialogue with Munch's works, such as The Scream and Anxiety. Brandtzæg described the discovery as electrifying, stating, "It was like working as a detective. I got butterflies in my stomach." This painting will be a highlight of the upcoming exhibition Dance Among Thorns, the first major museum show in the Nordic region dedicated to Rego, opening at the Munch Museum in Oslo on 24 April 2024.
Further Evidence and Artistic Dialogue
Brandtzæg's research also uncovered similarities between Rego's later works and Munch's paintings. For instance, Rego's The Dance (1988) echoes Munch's The Dance of Life (1925), while her Time – Past and Present (1990) resonates with Munch's History (1914). Brandtzæg believes that Munch became a kind of idol for Rego, providing courage and inspiration. In a 2004 interview with the British Library, Rego recalled attending another Munch exhibition in Paris in 1952, describing his paintings as "amazing" and "very emotional." She noted, "I loved the life in them and all these things that were going on seem to me what I was trying to do, really."
This discovery not only enriches our understanding of Paula Rego's artistic development but also highlights the enduring power of Edvard Munch's legacy across generations and geographies.
