Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" is rightfully considered one of the most influential works of art of our time. The memorable image of the protagonist of the story and the disturbing landscape behind him became a kind of warning about the coming catastrophes of the twentieth century.
The work also had a huge influence on psychoanalysis and psychology, as the most accurate and plausible embodiment of states of horror and fear. Below, we will tell you all the most interesting things about the painting and its influence on world culture.
Munch wrote "The Scream" in several copies
There are 5 known versions of Munch's painting. It is believed that one of them is the original, and the rest are copies made in different techniques at different times:
- This may be the earliest version of The Scream in which Munch completed the composition of the future work. The artist painted the picture in 1893 with pastels on cardboard.
- The original version of "The Scream", created in 1893. The artist painted the picture on cardboard with oil, tempera and pastel. Today the work is housed in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway.
- Lithograph from 1895. While working on the piece, Munch completed approximately 45 prints before reusing the stone for lithography. The artist additionally painted some layers by hand.
- The 1895 version of The Scream, painted in pastel on cardboard. In 2012, it was sold at Sotheby's for $119.9 million. The painting is now in the private collection of Leon Black.
- Late version of "Scream" from 1910. Art materials: cardboard, tempera. In 2004, this version was stolen from the Munch Museum. Only in 2006 it was possible to return it back.
There are other versions of the painting with significant differences. Only the location and landscape in the background remain unchanged.
The mysterious origin of the plot
The idea for the subject of the paintings could have come to Munch during a walk on the embankment. The artist himself wrote about such an episode in his diary. Meteorological scientists suggest that during his walk he could witness the appearance of the so-called. “pearl clouds” (a rare atmospheric phenomenon). Looking at the picture, we can see the sky of an unnatural red-bloody color. In the light of the setting sun, the contours of objects are distorted, perspective disappears, and colors cease to be consistent with each other. At this time, the bridge remains a fixed barrier separating man from the natural world. In the bosom of civilization, man has forgotten how to feel the rhythms of the elements and react to what is happening around him. And only the main character of “Scream” understands the horror of what is happening. According to one version, this loneliness emphasizes the tragedy of human life, frozen on the border between nature and civilization.
There is also another, psychoanalytic interpretation of the plot, which well explains the main reason for the popularity of Munch's work. According to this explanation, the artist felt the full horror of the impending catastrophes of the twentieth century. The achievements of science in the 19th century created among Munch's contemporaries the illusion of approaching an era of prosperity. The production of new goods and the growth of prosperity pushed the inhabitants of that time to the idea that a bright future awaited humanity. Most refused to see the threats that awaited the world due to the increased ability of people to kill each other. The alarming premonition was later confirmed by 2 world wars, hundreds of military conflicts around the world, epidemics and genocides. In fact, Munch managed to plunge into the collective unconscious and see the catastrophes of the coming century.
Some art historians believe that the screaming figure in Munch’s painting is an adapted image of a mummy from a museum in Florence (according to another version, from a museum in Paris). Proponents of this theory put forward only indirect evidence. It is known that in 1899 Munch was passing through the vicinity of Florence, but there is no evidence that he saw museum exhibitions.
Painting thefts
The Scream was first stolen in February 1994 from the National Gallery in Oslo. The daring kidnappers left a note thanking them for the “poor security system.” It turned out that due to preparations for the Olympic Games, which were taking place in Norway at that time, the canvas was moved to another room that was not suitable for protecting the exhibit. The thieves demanded a ransom of $1 million, but the gallery's management refused to agree to the robbers' terms. A few months later, the painting was found during an operation by the secret services of Norway and Britain. The masterpiece was found unharmed and soon returned to the gallery. One of the defendants in the kidnapping had previously taken part in the theft of another work by Munch called “Vampire.”
In 2004, one version of The Scream was stolen from the Munch Museum, along with another work by the artist called Madonna. The daring robbery took place during daylight hours, so a random witness even managed to capture the robbers in a photograph. The following year, the attackers were arrested, but the fate of the paintings remained unknown. The museum administration promised a reward for information about the paintings, but the initiative did not produce results. It was possible to return the paintings only in 2006 during a secret special operation, the details of which are still unknown. In 2008, after the completion of restoration work, the museum administration held the exhibition “The Scream and the Madonna – Returned.”
Impact on culture
At the end of the last century, Scream was imitated, parodied and copied. All this helped the film gain cult status in popular culture. References to the work are found in fine art, cinema, literature, social networks and even the symbols of government institutions.
In fine arts
A copy of Munch's painting graces the cover of Arthur Janov's 1970 book The Primal Scream. It is dedicated to the revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis, which describes new principles for the treatment of neuroses.
In 1983–1984, Andy Warhol produced a series of silkscreens copying various works by Munch. Among them was also "Scream". The artist’s main message is the desacralization of the work through endless repetition in mass culture. In fact, he continued what Munch himself had already started, who had previously created a lithograph of the original “The Scream” in 1895.
Postmodernist artist Erro (Gvüdmündur Gvüdmündsson) twice made ironic references to Munch's work in 1967 (The Second Scream) and 1979 (Ding Dong).
References to "Scream" can also be found on the cover of MGMT's 2018 album Little Dark Age. There, the figure of the main character of the plot appears in clown makeup, but the similarity is obvious.
References to Scream can even be found in the design of social networks. Emoticon U+1F631 😱 (Face screaming in fear) visually resembles the main character of the picture.
In cinema
The face of the main character of the cult Christmas comedy Home Alone, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), on the film poster visually copies the plot of Munch’s painting. Later it turned out that the coincidence was not accidental, and the director actually borrowed the motif from the masterpiece.
The Ghostface mask worn by the main antagonists of the Scream horror film series also contains a direct reference to the work of the Norwegian artist. It was created by costume designer Brigitte Sleirten for Halloween. He was later noticed by Marianna Maddalena and Wes Craven.
Part of the appearance of the aliens from the 2011 series Doctor Who has similar features to the painting.
In 2018, the Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis made a musical based on the theft of a painting from a gallery in Oslo in 1994. The main role in it was played by the thief of the masterpiece, Paul Enger.
The image of a screaming man was used to design a logo for a group of researchers working on the treatment of neuralgic disease. It has been described as the most painful pathological condition of the nervous system.
In literature
In Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the protagonist and his companion look at a painting in an art gallery. Afterward, one of them says that she reminds him of how androids feel.
Government agencies
One of the US Department of Energy icons contains a simplified version of the film's plot. It is used to non-verbally convey a warning about the dangers of approaching nuclear waste.
In 2013, The Scream was one of four paintings selected by the Norwegian Postal Service for a series of stamps. The issue was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch.
KyivGallery art critic