Young Woman from the Latin Quarter

Young Woman from the Latin Quarter is a significant 1897 lithograph by the Norwegian Symbolist master, Edvard Munch (1863-1944). The work demonstrates Munch's deep engagement with printmaking during a highly productive period in his career. This particular example was executed using the demanding lithographic technique, featuring tusche drawn directly onto the stone or plate. It was skillfully printed by Lemercier on gray wove paper, which was subsequently laid down on a white wove paper support. This complex, layered medium enhances the subtle contrasts and emotional intensity that characterize Munch’s graphic output.

Created while Munch resided intermittently in Paris and Berlin, the print captures the specific atmosphere of the fin-de-siècle in a major European capital. The subject, a young woman situated in the renowned student district of Paris, embodies the artist’s recurring theme of individual introspection and solitude within modern urban life. Munch consistently explored themes of existential anxiety and emotional isolation through the depiction of female figures. His masterful handling of shadow and line in the work reflects the psychological depth he brought to the Symbolist movement.

As one of the foundational figures of modern graphic arts, Munch elevated the status of prints as an expressive medium. His stark, emotive style revolutionized illustration and provided a crucial foundation for subsequent Expressionist movements emerging from both Germany and Norway. This important print is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Although the work is protected by copyright, its recognized historical significance ensures that future generations will appreciate the pioneering graphic techniques employed by Munch.