Elena Rossi
Edvard Munch's iconic painting 'The Scream' includes a small pencil inscription in the top left-hand corner, which reads: Can only have been painted by a madman. The Norwegian phrase was added by Munch himself, rather than a vandal, around two years after the painting's completion in 1893. The painting, which has come to symbolise angst in the modern age, has been the subject of much debate surrounding Munch's state of mind.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Edvard Munch |
| Painting | The Scream |
| Year of creation | 1893 |
| Language of inscription | Norwegian |
| Translation of inscription | "Can only have been painted by a madman" |
| Writer of inscription | Edvard Munch |
| Year of inscription | 1895 |
| Reason for inscription | Public indignation and criticism about the painting and Munch's mental state |
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What You'll Learn
- The inscription can only have been painted by a madman was added by Munch himself
- The Scream was first exhibited in 1895 and provoked sharp criticism
- Munch was concerned about hereditary illnesses and the public debate about his mental state
- Infrared images revealed that the writing was on top of the paint and was Munch's handwriting
- The Scream symbolises the anxiety of the human condition and has become one of the most iconic images in art
The inscription can only have been painted by a madman was added by Munch himself
Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" is one of the world's most famous and researched paintings. The agonized face depicted in the painting has become one of the most iconic images in art, seen as symbolizing the anxiety of the human condition. Munch created two versions in paint and two in pastels, as well as several prints from a lithograph stone. The painting has been subject to much analysis and interpretation over the years, with particular focus on the artist's state of mind.
The inscription "Can only have been painted by a madman" was added to the painting by Munch himself, according to recent findings by curators at the National Museum of Norway. Infrared images and handwriting analysis have confirmed that the handwriting belongs to Munch. The inscription was likely added two years after the painting was completed, following the first exhibition of the work in Munch's native Kristiania (now Oslo) in 1895. The exhibition provoked sharp criticism and public indignation at the painting's disturbing imagery and questions about the artist's mental state.
Munch may have added the inscription as a bitter rejoinder to the negative reception of his work. The artist was deeply hurt by the response and wrote about it extensively in his diaries. Both Munch's father and sister suffered from depression, and the artist himself was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown in 1908. The inscription can be interpreted as a way for Munch to take control of his own feelings and situation, using irony to distance himself from the perception of madness.
The small size of the inscription and the fact that Munch did not paint over it to conceal it further support the argument that it was added by the artist himself rather than a vandal. The inscription has received surprisingly little attention over the years, despite the fame and extensive research surrounding the painting.
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The Scream was first exhibited in 1895 and provoked sharp criticism
Edvard Munch's painting, The Scream, was first exhibited in October 1895 at a private art gallery in Christiania, now Oslo. The exhibition provoked sharp criticism and public indignation at the work's disturbing imagery and questions about the artist's mental state.
Munch's early images created outrage and debate at the time, about 120 years ago. The first time the inscription "Can only have been painted by a madman" was mentioned was in connection with an exhibition in Copenhagen in 1904, eleven years after Munch painted The Scream in 1893. At the time, a Danish art critic thought a member of the public had written it.
The Scream has come to symbolise angst in the modern age. The painting depicts a figure in a twisted grimace, which has become a universal symbol of human angst. The agonised face in the painting has become one of the most iconic images in art, seen as symbolising the anxiety of the human condition.
Munch recalled that he had been out for a walk at sunset when suddenly the setting sun's light turned the clouds "a blood red". He sensed an "infinite scream passing through nature". Scholars have located the spot along a fjord path overlooking Oslo and have suggested various explanations for the unnaturally orange sky, including the effects of a volcanic eruption, the appearance of nacreous clouds, or a psychological reaction by Munch to his sister's commitment at a nearby lunatic asylum.
Infrared images at Norway's National Museum in Oslo recently confirmed that Munch himself wrote the note. The inscription has always been visible to the naked eye, but infrared images helped to more clearly distinguish the writing from its background. Comparing it with the artist's handwriting then clearly proved Munch's authorship.
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Munch was concerned about hereditary illnesses and the public debate about his mental state
Edvard Munch's "The Scream" is one of the most famous and researched paintings in the world. The agonized face depicted in the painting has become a universal symbol of human angst and anxiety. Munch created four versions of the painting between 1893 and 1910, two in paint and two in pastels, as well as several prints.
The National Museum of Norway's version of "The Scream" is unique in that it bears a mysterious inscription in the top left corner, scribbled in pencil and stating, "Can only have been painted by a madman". For a long time, it was unclear who wrote this sentence, with some speculating that it was an act of vandalism by a disgruntled viewer. However, recent research and infrared analysis have revealed that the handwriting belonged to Munch himself.
Munch was concerned about hereditary illnesses, as both his father and sister suffered from depression, and he himself was hospitalized for a nervous breakdown in 1908. The artist suffered from the public's perception of him as mentally unstable, which was openly discussed even in his presence. Art critics, such as Henrik Grosch, wrote that Munch's paintings showed that he could no longer be considered "a serious man with a normal brain".
The inscription on "The Scream" is believed to have been added by Munch himself around two years after the painting's completion, following the negative reception and personal criticism he received during the first exhibition of the work in his native Kristiania (present-day Oslo) in 1895. The painting provoked sharp criticism and public indignation due to its disturbing imagery, and Munch's mental state was openly debated. According to curator Mai Britt Guleng, the inscription can be interpreted as Munch's ironic response to the public debate about his mental state, taking control of the situation and expressing his feelings in an unorthodox way.
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Infrared images revealed that the writing was on top of the paint and was Munch's handwriting
Edvard Munch's 1893 painting "The Scream" is one of the world's most famous and researched artworks. The painting has undergone infrared analysis as part of conservation work, revealing new insights into a mysterious inscription on the artwork. The infrared images showed that the writing was on top of the paint and was indeed Munch's handwriting.
The inscription, "Can only have been painted by a madman", was written in pencil in the top left-hand corner of the painting. The writing was first discovered in 1904 and was initially believed to be the work of a vandal or disgruntled spectator. However, infrared scans and handwriting analysis have confirmed that the handwriting belongs to Munch himself.
Mai Britt Guleng, the curator at the National Museum of Norway, has stated that the handwriting and the events surrounding the painting's first exhibition in Norway in 1895 all indicate that Munch wrote the inscription. The exhibition provoked sharp criticism and public speculation about Munch's mental state. It is believed that Munch added the inscription in response to these judgments on his work and himself.
The infrared images not only revealed the handwriting but also provided a clearer view of the inscription. The writing has always been visible, but it was very difficult to interpret without the aid of infrared technology. The use of infrared photography allowed the carbon from the pencil to stand out more clearly, making the inscription much easier to read and analyse.
The confirmation that Munch wrote the inscription adds a fascinating layer of interpretation to the painting. It provides insight into Munch's state of mind and his response to the criticism he faced. This discovery highlights the ongoing process of uncovering new perspectives and answers when engaging with Munch's artwork.
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The Scream symbolises the anxiety of the human condition and has become one of the most iconic images in art
Edvard Munch's "The Scream" is one of the most iconic images in art. The agonised face in the painting has become a universal symbol of human angst and anxiety. The painting depicts a figure with a twisted grimace, reacting to hearing a scream. Munch himself described it as an infinite scream passing through nature.
Munch created four versions of "The Scream" between 1893 and 1910, two in paint and two in pastels, as well as a lithograph stone from which several prints survive. The version owned by the National Museum of Norway is the only one bearing a mysterious inscription: "Can only have been painted by a madman", written in Norwegian. This was added by Munch himself, in pencil, around two years after he completed the painting.
The inscription was likely a response to the criticism Munch received after exhibiting "The Scream" for the first time in Norway in 1895. The painting prompted public indignation at its disturbing imagery and questions about the artist's mental state. Munch was concerned about hereditary illnesses, with both his father and sister suffering from depression, and he himself was hospitalised for a nervous breakdown in 1908. The inscription can be seen as a way for Munch to take control of his feelings and the situation.
The red skies in the background of "The Scream" have been the subject of much analysis. One theory is that they are a memory of the effects of the powerful volcanic eruption of Krakatoa, which tinted sunset skies red in parts of the Western hemisphere for months in 1883 and 1884, about a decade before Munch painted "The Scream". Another explanation is that they are due to the appearance of nacreous clouds, which occur at the latitude of Norway and look similar to the skies in the painting. Alternatively, the proximity of a slaughterhouse and a lunatic asylum to the site depicted may have inspired the red skies.
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Frequently asked questions
This is a reference to a comment made by Edvard Munch on his own painting, 'The Scream'.
Munch added this inscription after his work received criticism for its disturbing imagery and questions about his mental state were raised.
Munch likely wrote this in 1895, two years after completing the painting, when it was first exhibited in his native Kristiania (now Oslo).
