When doing analysis of Edvard Munch’s painting Girls on the Bridge, the thing we must consider first at foremost is the bridge itself. The bridge is one of the major focal points of the painting and is in the title, but what is the bridge’s purpose in the painting? Bridges are often portrayed as a representation of change of some sort of transition. Usually this transition is a transition into paradise, or a better place such as heaven. However, in Girls on the Bridge, I feel as though this bridge is a symbol for something completely opposite. Some may also conclude that bridge symbolize the difficult decisions in one’s life, that may put us in an emotional junction. This theory brings up an interesting idea in relation to the girls in the painting. Three of the girls are gazing into the mirror that is the water perhaps looking within for some sort of knowledge or understanding. On the other hand, the other girl is shown as completely emotionless due to her lack of face. Another interesting aspect to the painting is the road. Similarly to Munch’s more famous painting, The Scream, the road and landscape begin to merge together towards what becomes the vanishing point of the painting. Going along with that, another interesting comparison between Girls on the Bridge and The Scream is how the roads are going in opposite directions almost like the image we see here is preceding The Scream. I would like to expand on this theory, especially using the girl in front who is not facing the water. I believe that this girl is meant to become the screaming figure. This girl is not able to look within herself and find the true meaning in life, so unfortunately she gives into the temptations of the corrupt and modern world. This girl is dressed in all white in Girls on the Bridge and becomes consumed by the darkness in The Scream as she is shown in all black. Overall, I feel as though Munch is using these girls and this bridge to represent the choices society makes as a whole, and that Munch generally believes these choices are the wrong ones and are leading to the downfall of society.
