An extraordinary new discovery has illuminated the artistic lineage connecting two of the most significant figures in modern art: Edvard Munch and Paula Rego. An unearthed painting and a previously overlooked letter from Rego highlight the profound impact Munch had on her development as an artist, revealing a hidden dialogue that resonates through their works. This revelation comes as the art world prepares for a major exhibition dedicated to Rego at the Munch Museum in Oslo, set to open on April 24, 2026.
A Formative Encounter
The story begins with a young Rego, who, at just 16, attended a Munch exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London in 1951. In a letter addressed to her mother, Maria, back in Portugal, Rego expressed her awe at Munch’s art, describing it as “so impressive that you can’t imagine.” The letter, which has just surfaced, reveals her emotional response to Munch’s iconic works, particularly The Scream and Inheritance. The latter, a haunting depiction of a woman weeping while cradling a skeletal child, left an indelible mark on Rego’s young mind.
Rego’s admiration for Munch did not fade; rather, it evolved. A year later, during a severe drought that afflicted her native Portugal, she created her own piece, titled Drought. This artwork features a similar imagery—a pregnant woman holding a skeletal infant. The colour palette and the thematic undercurrents of despair echo Munch’s signature style, suggesting that his influence was woven into the fabric of her emerging identity as an artist.
Discoveries in the Archive
The painting Drought, measuring just 65cm by 22cm, was rediscovered in 2015 by Rego’s son, Nick Willing, while clearing out the family home in Portugal. It had been tucked away in a portfolio, lost to time until its recent excavation alongside the letter. When Willing and the head of Rego’s estate presented the piece to Kari J Brandtzæg, an art historian at Norway’s Munch Museum, the connections to Munch’s work were immediate and striking.
Brandtzæg noted the parallels in technique and colour, particularly in the use of red and yellow, reminiscent of Munch’s earlier works. “It was so obvious,” she said, reflecting on the roughness of the painting, akin to Munch’s style from the 1890s. This revelation has sparked a renewed interest in Rego’s oeuvre, prompting the inclusion of Drought in the upcoming exhibition, Dance Among Thorns.
A Visual Dialogue
As Brandtzæg delved deeper into Rego’s body of work, she began to uncover a visual conversation between the two artists. Notable parallels emerged between Rego’s The Dance (1988) and Munch’s The Dance of Life (1925), as well as between Rego’s Time – Past and Present (1990) and Munch’s History (1914). “There is a kind of dialogue with Munch’s pictures,” Brandtzæg explained. “It is almost as though Rego is having a silent conversation with Munch’s visual world.”
Despite the clear connections, Brandtzæg faced challenges in tracing the extent of Rego’s engagement with Munch’s work beyond that formative exhibition. Even as she unearthed evidence of Rego attending a later exhibition in Paris in 1952, the concrete links remained elusive until the discovery of Drought and the accompanying letter, which illuminated the emotional and artistic ties Rego felt towards Munch.
An Artistic Legacy
The profound impact of Munch on Rego’s artistic journey cannot be overstated. In a 2004 interview for the British Library, Rego reminisced about her experiences with Munch’s work, describing it as “amazing” and “very emotional.” She acknowledged that Munch’s paintings encapsulated the very essence of what she aspired to convey in her own art. “I loved the life in them,” she remarked, suggesting that Munch had become a source of inspiration and courage for her burgeoning creativity.
Brandtzæg posits that Munch served as an artistic confidant for Rego, offering a framework through which she could explore her own identity and emotional landscape. “Something deep within her resonates with Munch’s work,” she concluded. “For both Rego and Munch, art is a way of finding and being yourself.”
Why it Matters
This revelation not only enriches our understanding of Paula Rego’s artistic genesis but also underscores the interconnected nature of artistic inspiration across generations. By recognising the influence of Edvard Munch on Rego’s work, we gain insight into the emotional and conceptual depth that characterises both artists, illuminating the ways in which art can transcend time and cultural boundaries. The unfolding narrative reveals that the dialogue between artists is a timeless thread, weaving together the legacies of those who dare to express their innermost truths through their craft.
