Jens Ferdinand Willumsen and Edvard Munch shared an artistic kinship. They knew and admired each other; Munch helped Willumsen find exhibition premises in Oslo - the first time in 1892 - and they showed their works together at joint exhibitions in Europe.

One can imagine that this mutual interest must also have been expressed in their works, as can be seen in “Hvilende kvinde med hvid hat” (Resting woman with white hat). The lovely water colour is a preliminary study for what would later become the masterpiece “En Bjergbestigerske” (A Mountain Climber) from 1904.

In the spring of 1902 Willumsen went on a hiking trip with his fiancee Edith Wessel in the Pyrenees and later towards the Swiss Alps, where Willumsen executed a long series of sketches of his future wife in different poses. The composition of the motif here testifies to the period's view of nature, worship of the body and freedom, but also Willumsen's interest in Munch's art - as a mirrored retelling of Edvards Munch's painting “Sommernat. Inger på stranden” (Summer night. Inger at the beach) from 1889. The figures are placed in different types of topography, but the models' body language and thoughtful state of mind create parallels. Even the white hat figures in both images; Inger Munch holds it in her hand, while Edith Willumsen has placed it carelessly besides her in the grass.