The Scream.

By Edvard Munch.

The Scream is a famous painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, which has become an iconic image in the art world. The painting portrays a person with a distressed face, screaming against a bright red sky. It is believed to depict the anxiety and despair of the human condition and has become a symbol of the Expressionist movement.

There are four versions of The Scream by Munch, two in paint and two in pastels. The most famous one, created in 1893, is an oil on canvas painting that currently resides in The National Gallery of Museum in Oslo. Munch also made a lithograph stone version of the image, from which 45 prints still exist, some of which are hand-coloured by Munch himself.

Munch created The Scream after a personal experience at sunset, which he described in his diary.

“I was walking along the road with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I felt a whiff of melancholy – I stood still, deathly tired – above the blue-black fjord and city hung blood and tongues of fire. My friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I felt a great scream passing through nature”.

Munch’s painting effectively portrays the sense of anxiety and despair that the artist experienced. The figure in the foreground is screaming, yet there seems to be no one around to hear them. The blood-red sky and swirling clouds intensify the feeling of unease and turmoil.

The Scream has been interpreted in many different ways over the years. Some people see it as a representation of the existential angst of the modern world. Others see it as a reflection of Munch’s own personal struggles with mental illness. Still, others see it as a universal image of human suffering and despair.

Whatever its interpretation, The Scream remains one of the most powerful and moving images in art. It is a painting that continues to resonate with people from all over the world. Visit The National Museum in Oslo.

*Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

What is your take on “The Scream”?

Do you like Munch’s Scream, or do you love it? If you love the paintings, then what version would you say is your favourite? Please join in with the conversation below in the comments section.

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