Thursday Doors: The Munch Museum, Oslo and d’Verse poetry: Mr Moon Helps Out #thursdaydoors #munchmuseum #poetry #d’Verse

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Thursday Doors

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2024/06/06/carnegie-science-center/

Today, I’m sharing some doors from the Munch Museum in Oslo and a few of Edvard Munch’s fabulous expressionist paintings.

Britannica says: Expressionism, In the visual arts, artistic style in which the artist depicts not objective reality but the subjective emotions that objects or events arouse. This aim is accomplished through the distortion and exaggeration of shape and the vivid or violent application of colour.

You can read more about expressionism here: https://www.britannica.com/summary/Expressionism

Picture caption: The munch museum with its fascinating reflective surface.
Picture caption: TC standing outside the doors and waiting for the photographer – grin!
Picture caption: Me posing in front of a distant Munch Museum (don’t judge – I’d been travelling for 19 hours before I arrived in Oslo at 2pm earlier on this day)
The Scream in oils
The Scream in B&W

We were lucky enough to see two of The Scream exhibits (out of three). A testimony to how long I spent in this museum.

A selection of paintings at the Munch Museum. I like the horse best:

A few paintings in the red room at the Munch Museum (creepy!)

A large oil on canvas painting called The Researchers

Other than The Scream, my three favourite Munch paintings in order of my admiration.

Picture caption: My Michael’s version of The Scream in oil pastels. I thought it was pretty good.

d’Verse poetry prompt by Lillian

New to dVerse?  Need to be refreshed on the rules? Here’s what to do:

  • Choose one of the images above (they are the only images we have permission to use) and write a poem that either describes the image or is in some way motivated by/connected to the image.

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/06/04/feeling-a-bit-nostalgic-today/

Yesterday my poem was a bit dismal so I’m giving you something fun and imaginative today.

Image of the moon on its side and attached to a basket by strings, by Catrin Welz-Stein

Mr Moon Helps Out

With a last hurrah of lavish red splendor, the sun sinks below the horizon.

The insects are preparing for the ball. There’s a great sense of anticipation.

At the venue, the coordinator, Miss Spider, throws her hands up in despair.

The glow worm is sick, her light pale and dim. Miss Spider cries: “It’s so unfair!

I’ve been planning this party for months and now the lighting system has failed.

I need to think of a substitute quickly or our autumn celebration will be derailed.”

“Mr Moon can help us,” suggested young Dave Earthworm. “He has a lovely light.”

“Your right,” said Jack Centipede. “Even his current half-face is wonderfully bright.”

“Brilliant boys,” said Miss Spider. “Mr Moon is the perfect solution to our complication.

Go with Miss Dragonfly in her courier basket and see if he’ll light up our celebration.”

The entire support band set off, with Miss Dragonfly setting a rapid flying pace.

By the time they reached Mr Moon, she felt like she’d run a long and hilly race.

The question was posed and Mr Moon was agreeable: “I’m delighted to be of service.”

“We’ll have to transport you on your side, tied with silken strings, so don’t be nervous.”

Jack said: “Jemima Silkworm has spun several silken strings to help us transport you.

Don’t worry about a thing, Miss Dragonfly’s a great flyer and we’re a competent crew.”

The youngsters set about their work with hearty good will and the job was soon done.

Dave said: “Now it’s time to get back to the ballroom and kick off the evening’s fun.”

The group got back from their adventures just before the first guests started to arrive.

Mr Moon’s light highlighted their colourful outfits as the insects started to dance and jive.

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

108 thoughts on “Thursday Doors: The Munch Museum, Oslo and d’Verse poetry: Mr Moon Helps Out #thursdaydoors #munchmuseum #poetry #d’Verse”

  4. You had me with this line:
    “The glow worm is sick, her light pale and dim.”
    What a wonderful imaginative story you’ve told here, complete with dialogue and wonderful critters as characters. This could truly be the plot for a wonderful children’s book!!! Thank you so much for posting to the prompt! I think Catrin Welz-Stein will love this!

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  7. How fabulous to visit the Munch museum! It’s always special to see art in person.

    Your response to the prompt would make a delightful children’s book, Robbie.

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    1. Hi Merril, visiting the art museums was a real highlight of our trip. It was also a ‘look and see’ with an intention to relocate by end 2025. I feel my time in southern Africa is coming to an end and new doors are opening for me. I do write for children and this is the style of writing I use.

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      1. Hi Robbie! That will be quite a change, if you decide to move!
        There’s a Mary Cassatt exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art–we just haven’t had a chance to get there yet. 🙂

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  13. I love your whimsical take on the prompt image. There is just something about that image that is really appealing. I agree with you about the creepiness factor in the red room.

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    1. This is the recorded answer to your question about why the person is screaming: Munch recalled that he had been out for a walk at sunset when suddenly the setting sun’s light turned the clouds “a blood red”. He sensed an “infinite scream passing through nature”.

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  18. Wonderful post. That is a delightful story. Did you do a silent scream in front of Munch Museum, you’re not showing us? Michael’s version is excellent.

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  20. That museum is huge, Robbie, and I had no idea Munch was so prolific and his style so diverse. Thanks for sharing so many paintings as part of the post. And a delightful poem. All it needs is some illustrations and it would make a lovely children’s book. 🙂

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    1. Hi Thomas, yes, I do like rhyming poetry although poetic experts now spur rhyming (unless its someone historically famous like Shakespeare). I find it much more difficult to write rhyming poetry and I enjoy the challenge from time to time.

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  23. You’re fortunate to have visited Oslo, Robbie! What a great experience to tour the Munch Museum. Thank you for the videos. I like the horse also. You looked perfect in the photo. I agree that Michael is becoming a great artist and his Scream is lovely.

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      1. It was terrible what he had gone through, Robbie. He would have flash back. It’ll take time for him to experience love and positive relationships to feel confidence without fear. I’m proud of what he’s done.

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  24. What a fantastic painting! I think you and your husband should be able to retire soon and live off Michael’s earnings as an artist. The poem was fun to read. All in all, it’s a huge–Thank You from me.

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  25. Thanks for sharing some of your wonderful experience, Robbie. The museum looks like a great place to tour. I love it that the building itself is a work of art. I like Michael’s version very much. I also like the photo of your husband “waiting for the photographer” – we all know that feeling.

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    1. Hi Dan, I’m glad you enjoyed this post. The museum was wonderful and the building is amazing. Michael’s art is shaping up nicely, I am proud of him. I’ve never waited for anyone as I am always the leader of adventures. However, I do like to take photographs along the way.

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  28. Thanks for posting about Munch’s paintings. I don’t know much about the artist outside of “The Scream,” so it was neat to see other paintings by him. And Michael did a great job with his version of “The Scream.” Speaking of great jobs, you wrote a delightful and whimsical poem. It’s a fun read!

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    1. Hi Jan, it was very worth the loooonnnngggg trip. I loved the museum and made the most of it. I also loved Oslo in general. Amsterdam was wonderful and those adventures will be shared in the weeks ahead.

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  31. We know a family with the husband having polio. He’s an accomplished engineer. Both he and his wife had great achievements before they retired. Three of the four kids were engineers. The boys work in the aerospace field.
    I think the mind is more important than the body. When we have a strong mind, we have the strength to endure the impossible. A strong mind is not born with, but built in time.
    You’re a wonderful mom with tremendous love and care for him. What you’ve been doing with him builds his confidence and belief in himself. He can endure his medical situations and face the world. Hugs to you and Michael!

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    1. HI Miriam, thank you for sharing this story. It gives me lots of hope. There is also the remarkable Stephen Hawkins. An amazing achiever despite his severe disabilities. Have a wonderful weekend, Miriam, with your beautiful grand daughters, daughter, and SIL. Huge hugs.

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  32. I keep hallucinating at your titles. I saw Munch museum and immediately thought of, well, munchies🤣 you know, a museum dedicated to cupcake and cookies with a shelf life of 400 years, bags of chips, cheese dip that might also be a weather resistant coating at room temperature…but no. Art! Art is so much better in person. Books can never do justice to a large work, nor can photography. Pictures merely whet your appetite for exposure to the real thing! Glad you enjoyed the museums. Large or small, they’re full of fascinating discoveries. Like 40 year old Little Debbie’s individuality wrapped coffee cakes!

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    1. Haha, Phil, that is funny. It is actually pronounced monk which was news to me. I am a big fan of expressionism even though my own artworks are generally more realistic. My attempts at nature chaos art have been restrained to realism mixed with expressionism concepts. We can’t change our personalities. Thank you, I am pleased you enjoyed this post.

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  33. Picasso said, “It took me four years to learn to paint like Raphael, and a lifetime to learn to paint like a child.” It might take me the rest of mine to learn to play guitar on a keyboard or completely eradicate passive verbs🤣

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  34. Ah, to be face-to-face with The Scream and Munch’s other works of art. I like your three favorite’s, especially the horse. Thank you for the virtual tour, Robbie, and your delightful poetry. Michael is quite talented.

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  35. I visited the old Munch musem, and it is so fascinating also beyond the scream… my favorite painting I think is Madonna, but there are so many (that also fits the poetry). I hope you had the chance to visit he Vigeland Park and the Viking ships while in Oslo…

    Love the tale with all the insects and their journey,

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  37. Robbie, what a delightful poem to accompany Catrin’s image. So awesome you got to visit the Munch museum. Thank you for sharing images of his other work, I only know one or two of his paintings by sight. Your son did a fabulous copy of the scream. Such bright colors that bring it to life.

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  40. The only Munch painting I was familiar with was Scream. I had no idea that he was such a prolific artist. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful works of art with us. Michael’s painting is very good. I like your poem as well, I always enjoy a party and Mr. Moon saved this one.

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  41. Robbie, I love your poem about the moon helping out so the insects didn’t need to cancel their shindig.☺️

    You look fabulous in your picture, and I’m jealous of your adventure to the Munch Museum.😄

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