Mrs. Marie Linde

The artwork Mrs. Marie Linde is a significant lithograph on paper created by the renowned Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) in 1902. This powerful print exemplifies Munch's mastery of graphic media, which he increasingly explored at the turn of the century. Unlike his earlier, intensely emotional painted works, this portrait demonstrates a refinement of print technique achieved during his highly productive period in Germany. The choice of lithography allows for deep contrasts and rich textural quality, defining the subject’s form through sharp lines and broad areas of tone typical of early 20th-century graphic production. The deliberate use of stark black and white enhances the psychological intensity characteristic of the emerging Expressionist movement, even when depicting a figure from high society.

The subject, Mrs. Marie Linde, was the wife of Dr. Max Linde, one of Munch’s crucial patrons and collectors during the early 1900s. Munch frequently utilized portraiture to explore psychological depth, often simplifying the composition to emphasize the sitter’s internal state and demeanor. This specific print is stylistically cohesive with the artist’s broader oeuvre, yet focuses on a more somber, structured presentation typical of his graphic output from that era. The work speaks volumes about Norwegian contributions to modernism and the power of prints as a fine art medium. Today, the 1902 lithograph Mrs. Marie Linde resides in the esteemed permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as a primary example of Munch’s pivotal contribution to printmaking and modern portraiture.