Edvard Munch (1863 - 1944) Norwegian painter, graphic designer and influential representative of modern art. He grew out of the spiritual atmosphere of Art Nouveau and his paintings have some characteristics of this style. He studied at the drawing school in Oslo, where he was influenced by naturalism, French Impressionists, Postimpressionists, (particularly Gauguin and Seurat). His work tends towards impressionism and symbolism and became the basis for expressionism. Through the Berlin exhibition in 1892, he significantly influenced the expressionist group Die Brücke and contributed to the creation of the Berlin Secession. In the Czech Republic, he became known after the exhibition in 1905, which inspired the art group Osma. Among his most famous paintings are, in particular, The Scream and Madonna. His paintings are characterized by the simplification of forms and attention to detail. Munch places emphasis on capturing mental states and emotions. Initially, his work lacked a warm reception as the images were labelled as violent, strange and distant to the general audience. After breaking up with lover Tully Larsen in 1906, his neurosis and depression deepened. The last years of his life were spent in the Norwegian countryside, and after the occupation of Norway by the Germans, he lived in fear in his house with his entire collection of paintings. His paintings significantly influenced expressionism and became representative of this style.