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Harvesting Women

A tale about botany and the tree of knowledge

Picture of Edvard Munch's Aula painting Harvesting women

Listen to the text:

 

Edvard Munch's painting Harvesting women depicts two women harvesting apples from a bountiful tree.

The image represents the natural sciences, with a direct reference to the field of botany.

The story about Eve in the Bible – the cautionary tale of the fall of humankind – becomes a story about the modern harvest from the tree of knowledge.

Or as Munch himself wrote: ?germinating energy – The fruit of wisdom is enjoyed?

Details

  • Technique and materials: Oil on canvas
  • Date: 1915–1916
  • Dimensions: 455 x 225 cm
  • Woll: 1228
  • UiO.K: 01408

Edvard Munch's Aula paintings

The decoration of the University Aula i