Color lithograph, 47 x 32 cm (inner dimensions of the passe-partout measuring 58 x 43 cm); facsimile signed lower right "E. Munch"; numbered in pencil lower left 178/200
Date of the original: 1896 (the color lithograph was created during this period, while Munch produced related oil and graphic versions between 1894 and 1902)
The work depicts a semi-nude woman with dark, loose hair falling over her shoulders, set against a background of shades of green and dark tones. It is one of the variations on the famous motif of the woman in Munch’s work, referring to the series*The Frieze of Life*.
Composition and Light: The figure is positioned at the center, and bright, warm light illuminates her body, contrasting with the darker, expressive background.
Style: The work is characterized by fluid, expressive lines and a free use of color patches, which is a hallmark of Munch’s expressionism and symbolism.
Symbolism: Munch depicts the woman in an ambiguous manner—combining motifs of sensuality and sensitivity with mystery and melancholy.
