A newly discovered 1951 letter reveals that a teenage Paula Rego was profoundly impressed by an Edvard Munch exhibition, specifically citing 'The Scream' and 'Inheritance.' This formative experience directly influenced her early work, such as her 1952 painting 'Drought,' which echoes Munch's style and themes. The letter, written to her mother, documents a pivotal artistic encounter she never publicly discussed.
The connection is significant as it provides a documented origin for the clear artistic dialogue between the two figurative painters, which will be highlighted in an upcoming major exhibition of Rego's work at Oslo's Munch Museum. The curator notes striking similarities in their use of composition, color, and the dramatization of inner psychological states, solidifying Munch's role as a key influence on Rego's development into a preeminent painter of searing visions.