Mrs. Marie Linde

Mrs. Marie Linde is a striking portrait print created by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) in 1902. Executed as a drypoint on buff wove paper, this piece exemplifies Munch’s rigorous exploration of graphic mediums during his mature period, where he often distilled emotional intensity through line and texture rather than color.

The technique of drypoint involves scratching directly into a copper plate with a sharp needle. This action raises a delicate burr on the edges of the incision, which holds the ink and results in the rich, velvety, yet intensely focused lines visible in this portrait. For the printing process of this image, Munch collaborated with the skilled German printer Otto Felsing, highlighting the artist’s international reach and dedication to technical quality in his prints.

Munch’s portraiture consistently moves beyond mere representation, seeking to convey the internal psychological state of the sitter. While the subject matter, Mrs. Marie Linde, is captured with formal clarity, the concentrated application of line characteristic of the Norwegian artist imbues the piece with a sense of underlying tension and immediacy.

The work is a key example of how Munch utilized printmaking to disseminate his expressive style across Europe, solidifying his reputation as a master of both painting and graphic arts. This impression, a significant artifact documenting Norway’s contribution to Expressionist art, is housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a landmark work from the early twentieth century, this drypoint portrait often falls within the public domain, allowing for widespread study and appreciation.