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The Scream by Edvard Munch: A Symbol of Human Despair and Anxiety.

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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.

The Scream,Edvard Munch. 1893, pastel on cardboard
1893, pastel on cardboard version.

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.

1893, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard. The first version publicly displayed, and perhaps the most recognisable, it is located at the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway.
The National Gallery in Oslo displays the most recognizable version of the painting, which was created in 1893 using oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard.

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”.

1895, lithograph print. About 45 prints were made before the printer re-used the lithograph stone. A few were hand-coloured by Munch.
In 1895, only around 45 prints were made from the lithograph stone, some of which Munch hand-colored.

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.

1895, pastel on cardboard. It was sold for nearly US$120 million at Sotheby's in 2012, and is in the private collection of Leon Black.
1895, pastel on cardboard. It was sold for nearly US$120 million at Sotheby’s in 2012 and is in Leon Black’s private collection.

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.

1910, tempera on cardboard. This version was stolen from the Munch Museum in 2004, but recovered in 2006.
In 1910, Edvard Munch created a tempera painting on cardboard. This painting was stolen from the Munch Museum in 2004, but it was recovered in 2006.

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.

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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