Sotheby’s Spotlight: Simon Shaw on Edvard Munch’s Dance on the Beach

London | 1 March 2023

Over four metres wide, ‘Dance on the Beach’ is an enigmatic composition that features the artist’s greatest loves – relationships that ended in tragedy and heartbreak. Dancing figures swirl around them, as the forces of life both good and bad compromise the relationship that lies at the very center.  

“I who came into the world sick, in sick surroundings, to whom youth was a sickroom and life a shiny, sunlit window — and out there I wanted so much to take part in the dance, the Dance of Life” - Edvard Munch  

Simon Shaw takes us on a journey to the stunning landscapes of Munch’s former residence and studio on the banks of the Oslo Fjord, where we learn about the rich history attached to one of Munch’s finest works ever likely to appear at auction. Watch here!

Edvard Munch’s Dance on the Beach will be offered in the Modern & Contemporary Auction at Sotheby’s London on 1 March.

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