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Edvard Munch has exerted a colossal influence on the Nordic tradition, which in Echoes of The Scream is represented by, in addition to the Norwegian artists, the Danish painters Asger Jorn, Svend Wiig Hansen and Per Kirkeby. This influence does not take the form of a clear graphic reproduction of his works, but rather of a spiritual, thematic inspiration. Munch is the major Scandinavian inspiration for Jorn's spontaneously inventive, abstract expressionism. As Jorn himself has pointed out, it is the content more than the form in Munch's works that is of pivotal importance for him; for example, the confrontation between male and female is a major theme for both of them. Yet the formal kinship is not completely absent either. Munch's rhythmical, sinuous lines lead directly to the organic brushwork in Jorn's works. We also find the organic brush strokes in Kirkeby, who in the same way as Jorn works towards a pure colouristic expressionism. The recurrent figurative elements in Kirkeby's pictures are the tree, the cave and two figures engaged in a form of dialogue. By virtue of the obtrusive effects of the painting, these motifs take on an almost symbolic character. The secret of the paintings lies hidden behind the tree, in the cave or in the embrace. This is the essence of Kirkeby's romantic tendency. At the same time, he stresses the painting's existence as painting. |
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