The Girls on the Bridge

The Girls on the Bridge, created in 1918 by Edvard Munch Norwegian, 1863-1944, is a complex print utilizing both woodcut and lithography techniques. Munch, the central figure in Norwegian Symbolism and Expressionism, frequently returned to this subject matter throughout his career, making the bridge motif one of his most recognizable and enduring compositions.

The technical execution of this work demonstrates Munch's highly innovative approach to graphic arts. It combines a woodcut matrix, meticulously inked in blue, with elements produced from multiple lithographic stones. This sophisticated layering allows for a rich chromatic palette, incorporating yellow, green, orange, and secondary blue layers to create depth and atmosphere on the white wove paper. This advanced method results in a visually dynamic surface, distinct from the simpler graphic quality often seen in the artist’s earlier prints.

Although the artist is typically associated with the intense psychological dramas of the 1890s, Munch continued to refine these powerful motifs into the early twentieth century. The bridge acts as a powerful visual metaphor for transition or isolation in Munch’s oeuvre, focusing attention on the iconic line of standing figures who gaze rigidly outward. This pivotal example of Norwegian printmaking, illustrating the artist’s mastery across multiple media, is now preserved in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its age and historical significance, the ability to study high-quality reproductions of such Expressionist prints is often facilitated by public domain initiatives today.