The artwork titled “Girls on a Bridge” by Edvard Munch is a notable piece that was created during 1899 – 1900. This piece was rendered using oil paint on canvas. Edvard Munch, a seminal figure in the Expressionist movement, has conveyed a genre painting that exudes the emotional resonance typical of his style. Despite its place within a private collection, the artwork has left an enduring mark as a representative of the Expressionist approach to capturing human sentiments and conditions.
The artwork depicts a group of girls standing on a wooden bridge, with their backs turned to the viewer. Their postures and the direction of their gaze suggest a shared focus on something out of frame. The setting is characterized by bold and sweeping curves, which is reflective of Munch’s expressionistic style—the natural environment appears to pulsate with life and movement. Dominant hues of red, yellow, and white contrast with the cooler tones of the sky and lush greenery, lending the scene a vibrant yet somewhat unsettling atmosphere. This tension is further heightened by the liberal use of swirling lines and thick brushstrokes that capture both the tranquility and the latent energy of this social moment. Through such artistic choices, Munch conveys the inner lives and emotions of the figures within the artwork, embodying the essence of the Expressionist movement’s desire to visually depict the subjective experience.