Art wall "madonna" by edvard munch 14x18 gallery wrapped canvas art. although it is a highly unusual representation, this painting might be of mary, the mother of jesus. until the 20th century mary was usually represented in high art as a chaste, mature woman. true to the norwegian cultural beliefs and way of life, the painting is a strong dose of conceivable realism. sigrun rafter, an art historian at the oslo national gallery suggests that munch intended to represent mary in the life-making act of intercourse, with the sanctity and sensuality of the union captured by munch. the usual golden halo of mary has been replaced with a red halo symbolizing the love and pain duality. the viewer"s viewpoint is that of the man who is making love with her. even in this unusual pose, she embodies some of the key elements of canonical representations of the virgin: she has a quietness and a calm confidence about her. her eyes are closed, expressing modesty, but she is simultaneously lit from above.