The Girl at the Window 1994

Edvard Munch created this print, “The Girl at the Window,” using etching, a process with a long and fascinating history. The image begins as a polished metal plate, likely copper. The artist covers this with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws into it with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. Immersed in acid, the exposed lines are bitten, creating grooves. Ink is then forced into these lines, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under the tremendous pressure of a printing press. Look closely at the matrix of lines, varying in depth and direction. This is the language of the etcher, a choreography of marks that builds tone and texture. The stark contrast emphasizes the emotional weight of the scene. By understanding the means of production, and the labor that went into it, we come to a richer appreciation of Munch’s art, recognizing its connection to a wider world of making.