The artwork “Women on the Bridge,” created by Edvard Munch in 1902, is an oil on canvas belonging to the Expressionism movement. With dimensions of 184 by 205 centimeters, this genre painting is currently housed at the Bergen Billedgalleri in Bergen, Norway. The artwork is a notable example of Munch’s engagement with emotional and psychological themes, embodying the characteristics of Expressionism through its vibrant color palette and fluid brushwork.
The artwork presents a scene of several figures positioned on a bridge. In the foreground, a woman dressed in a prominent blue garment, with a pronounced white collar and a belt cinched at her waist, stands facing the viewer. Her stance is assertive, her expression enigmatic, and her presence dominates the composition. Behind her, a group of women in lighter-colored attire, including whites and yellows, are clustered together, possibly engaged in conversation. These figures wear hats, and their postures are relaxed, in contrast to the frontal figure.
The figures are situated on a wooden bridge that cuts diagonally across the canvas, leading the viewer’s eye from the left foreground to the right background. The background of the artwork is relatively muted, featuring a suggestive landscape that contains green foliage and houses with red roofs. The sky appears overcast, lending a somewhat subdued atmosphere to the scene. Munch’s use of elongated forms and contrasting colors emphasizes emotional resonance over realistic depiction, providing insight into the interior worlds of the subjects rather than a faithful representation of physical reality.
Overall, the composition and stylistic elements of “Women on the Bridge” are reflective of Munch’s introspective approach to painting, prioritizing subjective experience and human emotion.