Foreldra var militærlegen Christian Munch og Laura Cathrine Munch, født Bjølstad. Christian var 20 år eldre enn Laura, men dei to fann fellesskap i den kristne trua. Edvard var nest eldste barnet i ein søskenflokk på fem. Familien flytta til Christiania før Edvard var eitt år. Allereie som femåring mista Edvard mora av tuberkulose. Mora si yngre søster, Karen Bjølstad, flytte inn hos familien og vart raskt reservemor for barna. Storesyster Sophie døde da Edvard var 15 år, også ho av tuberkulose. Dette gjekk sterkt inn på Edvard noko som seinare kjem til uttrykk i måleri og teikningar.

Som barn var Edvard ofte sjuk og fleire gonger nær ved å døy. Dei lange vintrane heldt han seg i senga. Han var ikkje frisk nok til å gå på skulen og fekk undervisning heime. Det gav rom for å teikne, som han lika aller best. Unge Edvard teikna alt mogleg; landskap, rom, portrett, stilleben og fantasimotiv. Tante Karen som også hadde kunstnariske evner, oppmuntra nevøen sin til å fortsetja å teikne. 17 år gamal skriv han i dagboka:

«MIN BESTEMMELSE ER NU AT BLIVE MALER.»

Kjelde: Nikita Mathias, Edvard Munch-Kunsten og livet, 2020.

THE YOUNG EDVARD MUNCH

Edvard Munch was born at the farm Engelaug Østre in Ådalsbruk, Løten, on 12 December 1863. His parents were army doctor Christian Munch and his wife Laura Cathrine Munch, née Bjølstad. Christian was 20 years older than Laura, but the two were bound together in the Christian faith. Edvard was the second oldest of five children. The family moved to Christiania before Edvard had turned one. When he was five, his mother died from tuberculosis. His mother’s younger sister, Karen Bjølstad, moved in with the family and soon became a substitute mother for the children. When Edvard was 15, his older sister Sophie died – also from tuberculosis. This had a profound impact on Edvard, and is later expressed in his paintings and drawings.

As a child, Edvard was often ill and almost died on several occasions. During the long winters, he stayed in bed. He was not well enough to go to school, and was educated at home. This gave him the freedom to draw, which was what he loved to do the most. Young Edvard drew everything; landscapes, rooms, portraits, still life and fantasy images. Aunt Karen, who also had artistic talent, encouraged her nephew to continue drawing. At 17 years old, he writes in his diary:

“IT IS MY DECISION NOW TO BECOME A PAINTER”

Source: Nikita Mathias, Edvard Munch-Kunsten og livet, 2020.