Isabella Flores
Edvard Munch's The Scream is an icon of modern art, with the painting's central figure becoming one of the most famous images in art history. The agonised face has been seen as a symbol of the anxiety of the human condition. Munch created four versions of The Scream in his lifetime: two paintings, two pastels, and a number of prints. The first version of the painting was untitled, while the second bore the German title Geschrei. The Scream has been the target of several high-profile art thefts, with one version stolen from Oslo's National Gallery in 1994 and another from the Munch Museum in 2004.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Edvard Munch |
| Year | 1893 |
| Medium | Oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard |
| Dimensions | 73.5 x 91 cm |
| Location | The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo |
| Inscription | "Kan kun være malet af en gal Mand!" ("Could only have been painted by a madman!") |
| Theft | Stolen in 1994, recovered several months later |
| Auction | Sold for US$120 million at Sotheby's in 2012 |
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What You'll Learn
The Scream's creation and Edvard Munch's inspiration
Edvard Munch's The Scream is one of the most famous images in modern art. The painting depicts a figure with an agonized expression against a reddish sky, symbolizing the anxiety of the human condition. Munch created two versions in paint and two in pastels, as well as a lithograph stone from which several prints survive. The first version of the painting was untitled, while the second bore the German title "Geschrei", meaning "Scream". The Norwegian name of the piece is "Skrik", which also translates to "Scream".
Munch's inspiration for The Scream came from a personal experience he had while out for a walk at sunset. He described how he suddenly saw the clouds turn "blood red" and sensed an "infinite scream passing through nature". This experience, which Munch interpreted as a scream piercing through nature, became the basis for the painting. The artist also wrote about the incident in his diary in an entry headed "Nice, 22 January 1892":
> "One evening I was walking along a path, the city was on one side and the fjord below. I felt tired and ill. I stopped and looked out over the fjord – the sun was setting, and the clouds turning blood red. I sensed a scream passing through nature; it seemed to me that I heard the scream. I painted this picture, painted the clouds as actual blood. The color shrieked."
Munch's The Scream is considered autobiographical, expressing the artist's own anxiety and uncertainty. The painting's central figure has been interpreted as a self-portrait, reflecting Munch's mental state at the time. The two companions seen walking away in the background imply that the trauma experienced by the figure comes from their own mind rather than the external world.
The Scream has had a significant influence on the Expressionist movement and has become a popular representation of modern life's anxiety. It has been reproduced widely in art and popular culture, appearing in everything from art magazines to television and emojis. The painting has also been the target of several high-profile art thefts due to its iconic status.
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The Scream's various versions and their locations
Edvard Munch's The Scream is one of the most iconic paintings in art history, symbolizing existential angst and human anxiety. Munch created five different versions of The Scream between 1893 and 1910, using different mediums. Each version conveys the same intense emotion but with unique variations in colour, texture, and execution.
The first and most famous painted version of The Scream was created in 1893 using tempera and crayon on cardboard. It is currently housed at the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway. This version is known for its strikingly vivid colours and deep emotional intensity. The second version, also from 1893, is pastel on cardboard and is possibly the earliest execution of The Scream. It is located at the National Museum of Norway in Oslo.
The third version, from 1895, is a lithograph print. About 45 prints were made, and a few were hand-coloured by Munch. The fourth version, from 1910, is a tempera on cardboard and is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo. The fifth version is a pastel created in 1895 and sold at Sotheby's for a record US$120 million at auction in 2012. It is not known where this version is currently located.
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The Scream's thefts and attempted thefts
The Scream, by Edvard Munch, is one of the most recognisable paintings in the world. It is also one of the most frequently targeted by art thieves. The painting has been stolen at least three times and has been the subject of multiple theft attempts.
The 1994 Theft
On 12 February 1994, two men stole The Scream from the National Gallery in Oslo. The theft took just 50 seconds. The thieves pulled up outside the gallery, leaving the engine running, and set a ladder against the building. One of the men climbed up to a second-floor window, smashed it, and climbed inside. He then cut the wires holding the painting to the wall, carried it to the window, and passed it out. The thieves left a note reading "Thanks for the poor security". The painting was recovered undamaged on 7 May 1994, after a lengthy sting operation involving British police and the Getty Museum.
The 2004 Theft
On 22 August 2004, two masked men entered the Munch Museum in Oslo and stole The Scream at gunpoint. They also took another painting, Madonna, on their way out. A bystander photographed the robbers as they escaped to their car with the artwork. The paintings were recovered two years later, in 2006, with only minor damage.
Other Incidents
In addition to the two major thefts, there have been several other incidents involving attempted thefts and damage to the painting. In 2016, two men were arrested for stealing Munch lithographs from the Nyborgs Kunst art gallery in Oslo. While the lithographs did not depict The Scream, the incident indicates that Munch's work remains a popular target for thieves.
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The Scream's influence on popular culture
The iconic image of a figure standing alone, hands to their face, mouth agape in a scream, has become an enduring and recognizable symbol in popular culture, thanks to Edvard Munch's painting, "The Scream." This expressionist masterpiece, with its vivid colors and distorted shapes, has had a profound and lasting impact on the cultural landscape. Its influence can be seen and felt across various media, including film, literature, fashion, and even social media, with its legacy continuing to evolve and remain relevant in the 21st century.
One of the most significant ways "The Scream" has influenced popular culture is through its use and references in cinema. The painting's composition and themes have been homaged and replicated in numerous films, often to convey a sense of horror, isolation, or psychological distress. The iconic pose has been directly replicated in scenes from movies such as "Home Alone" and "The Silence of the Lambs," with the latter also referencing the painting's theme of psychological turmoil. The enduring image of the screaming figure has also been used to powerful effect in film posters, such as for the horror movie "The Ring," where the pose is mimicked to convey a sense of terror and foreboding.
Literature has also drawn inspiration from "The Scream," with writers incorporating its themes and imagery into their works. The painting's depiction of isolation and existential angst has resonated with writers exploring similar themes in their narratives. For example, the poem "The Scream: Memory Trace" by Robert Pinsky directly references the painting, using it as a springboard to explore personal and collective memories of trauma. Haruki Murakami's novel "1Q84" also references "The Scream," using the painting to symbolize the main character's sense of disconnection and unease in a distorted, alternate reality.
In the realm of fashion, "The Scream" has left its mark, too. The expressive, colorful nature of the painting has inspired fashion designers to create clothing and accessories that pay homage to Munch's work. Vibrant, swirling patterns and the distinctive color palette of the painting have been incorporated into dresses, scarves, and other items. For instance, the luxury fashion brand Gucci released a collection in 2013 that directly referenced "The Scream," with models sporting clothing and accessories featuring distorted faces and the painting's vivid hues.
The painting has also become a part of social media culture, with its iconic imagery being shared, remixed, and reinterpreted by users across various platforms. Memes based on "The Scream" are particularly popular, often using the painting's expressive nature to convey humor or sarcasm. Additionally, the painting has been used as a symbol of protest and social commentary, with people adapting and altering the image to suit various causes and contexts, demonstrating its enduring relevance and versatility.
Finally, "The Scream's" influence can be seen in the art world itself, with contemporary artists drawing inspiration from Munch's masterpiece. Some create direct reinterpretations, using different media or styles, while others take elements of the composition and incorporate them into new and unique works. "The Scream" continues to be a source of fascination and influence for artists, ensuring its legacy within the art world and popular culture at large. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to convey universal human emotions and experiences, ensuring its place as one of the most influential works of art in modern history.
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The Scream's place in the Expressionist movement
Edvard Munch's The Scream is one of the most famous images in art history. It has been described as "an icon of modern art, a Mona Lisa for our time". The painting depicts a figure with an agonised face, symbolising the anxiety of the human condition. This figure is thought to be modelled on an Inca mummy that Munch saw in a Parisian museum. The painting's style has been described as expressionistic, and it is based on Munch's own experience of a scream piercing through nature while on a walk. This experience occurred during a panic attack, which Munch recounted in his diary:
> "I was walking along the road with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature."
Munch's work, including The Scream, had a significant influence on the Expressionist movement. The painting's style, with its undulating lines and subjective linear fusion imposed upon nature, is characteristic of Expressionism. The Scream has been described as "the essence of Expressionism". The Expressionist movement emerged in Germany and Austria in the early 20th century, and Munch's work, particularly The Scream, was a key influence on this movement. The Scream has also influenced other artists, such as Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol.
The Scream has been the target of several high-profile art thefts and theft attempts. In 1994, the version in Oslo's National Gallery was stolen, but it was recovered several months later. The painting has been reproduced widely and has appeared in popular culture, further solidifying its place as an iconic work of modern art.
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Frequently asked questions
'The Scream' is an iconic painting by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. It is considered an expression of anxiety and uncertainty, and it has become a popular representation of the human condition.
Munch created four versions of 'The Scream' in his lifetime. There are two paintings, one from 1893 and one from 1910, as well as two pastels from 1893 and 1895, and a lithograph from 1895.
The original painted versions of 'The Scream' are located in Oslo. The 1893 version is in the National Gallery, and the 1910 version is in the Munch Museum. The 1895 pastel version was sold at Sotheby's in 2012 and is now in a private collection.
Munch created multiple versions of 'The Scream' as part of his semi-autobiographical cycle "The Frieze of Life." Each version explores different mediums and techniques, contributing to the expressive nature of the work.
Yes, the versions of 'The Scream' have been the target of several high-profile art thefts. In 1994, the 1893 version was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo but recovered a few months later. In 2004, armed gunmen stole the 1895 pastel version and 'Madonna' from the Munch Museum. These paintings were also recovered in 2006.
