An exhibition titled "Edvard Munch and the Chocolate Factory" has opened at the Munch Museum in Oslo, running until 11 October. It centers on Munch's rarely seen public works, including a preparatory sketch for Oslo City Hall discovered crumpled in snow after his death, and his 12-painting series for the Freia Chocolate Factory's canteen, completed in 1922. The show also highlights his monumental 1916 decorations for the University of Oslo's Aula, such as "The Sun" and "The History," which he created after a mental breakdown and a stay at a Copenhagen clinic.
The exhibition matters because it reframes the popular perception of Edvard Munch as an isolated, anxious artist, instead presenting him as a deliberate public and civic artist who believed art should be for everyone. Curator Ana Maria Basciani emphasizes Munch's strategic pursuit of public commissions to gain recognition and regenerate his career. By showcasing his only completed public works beyond the Aula—the Freia Chocolate Factory murals—the show reveals a nuanced chapter in Munch's life, connecting his artistic ambitions with his desire to engage with broader society and leave a lasting civic legacy.