ngk) , 1863—1944, Norwegian painter and graphic artist. He studied in Oslo and under Bonnat in Paris and traveled in Europe. In the 1890s he abandoned impressionism to portray from his profound sense of isolation the themes of death, fear, and anxiety. Munch said he heard "the scream of nature." To describe this, he developed an exciting, violent, and emotionally charged style that is recognized as being of primary importance in the birth of German expressionism. During the 1890s, Munch's most productive period, he made powerful and shocking woodcuts, developing a new technique of direct and forceful cutting that served to revive creative activity in this medium. Among his strongest and best-known works are The Scream (1893), Vampire (1894), and The Kiss (1895). Reaction to his stark, fearsome images caused the closing of an important Berlin exhibition of 1892. In 1909, after a severe mental illness, Munch returned from Germany to Norway, where he painted murals for the Univ. of Oslo and for an Oslo chocolate factory. His painting became brighter of palette and less introverted until the 1920s, when he again was moved to portray his dreadful anguish. Munch's work is in leading collections everywhere.
One of the most celebrated artists of the 20th Century was Andy Warhol. Born Andrew Warhola, in Pennsylvania USA to Czechoslovakian emigrant's Ondrej and Julia Warhola, his date of birth still remains a bit of a mystery. Andy always claimed that his 1930s birth certificate had been forged, but we do know that he was born between 1928 and 1931.
After graduating as a Batchelor of Fine Arts in 1949, Warhol shortened his name and started work as a commercial artist and illustrator for well-known publications like Vogue and Harpar's Bazaar. Although foremost his career was as a commercial artist he was desperate to have his work taken seriously and to be seen as a "pure" artist.
1956 was a turning point in his career and already a well-established figure mixing with the elite in social circles, his fascination with fame, celebrities and youth led him into another period of his artistic life.
Being obsessed with celebrities (as were most people in the 1960s) he began to paint the Hollywood screen idols. The image that is so recognisable as his work today is that of Marilyn Monroe, she was Warhol's favourite model although he did not begin to paint her until after her death. Other Hollywood screen idols that he captured during the 1960s were Elizabeth Taylor and Elvis Presley. These paintings were so popular, celebrities endorsed them and each wanted to be painted by him.
