Looking back I don’t remember when I was aware of “The Scream” perhaps it was something I saw on Tv? Or why I was drawn to it, perhaps it was the vivid colours. But back in 2013 on a visit to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York I was about to find out more.
Having arrived in New York from Sweden. And with a heavy schedule there weren’t many days available to see the sights. Time was of the essence. But in true Latto style we managed to fit in a trip to MoMA.
“The Scream” a pastel drawing produced in 1895 by Edvard Munch was on loan from a private collector for 6 months. Seeing the drawing up close and personal blew me away. Face to face with THE original drawing that was over a hundred years old, was mind blowing! This wasn’t the only artwork by Munch on display at MoMA. But it drew me in and encouraged me to discover more.
Edvard Munch – Inspiration
Born in Norway in 1863. Edvard was one of 5 children. His mother passed away when he was 5 and his eldest sister Sophie died some years later. He lived in dread of becoming mentally ill like one of his other sisters
“I inherited two of mankind’s most frightful enemies – the heritage of consumption and insanity – illness and madness and death were the black angels that stood at my cradle,”
These early traumas were a major influence on his works of art. His art works titled The Sick Child depicts his sister Sophie, afflicted with tuberculous. He produced a number of works around this theme. A later work titled Night in Saint Cloud was a tribute to his father who died in 1890. Death in the Sickroom depicts the mourning of relatives which is centered around his sister Sophie.
The Scream
Munch experimented with many types of art such as naturalism and impressionism but was most known for his expressionism and symbolism. While out walking with friends the colours of the setting sun would be inspiration behind The Scream
I was walking along the road with two friends—then the Sun set—all at once the sky became blood red—and I felt overcome with melancholy. I stood still and leaned against the railing, dead tired—clouds like blood and tongues of fire hung above the blue-black fjord and the city. My friends went on, and I stood alone, trembling with anxiety. I felt a great, unending scream piercing through nature.
In fact he created multiple versions of The Scream using different mediums for example lithograph, oil and tempura. The Scream formed the basis of
The Frieze of Life, a group of work that depicted the various “expression of modern man’s existential anxiety and despair” Titles of the pieces include Jealousy, Separation and Anxiety.
The Scream -Edvard Munch 
The Scream Lithograph
When Munch died in 1944 he left his lifeworks to the Norwegian Government. In fact there was so much that a museum dedicated to Munch was built – Munch Museum
“The gift consisted of approx. 1,150 paintings, 17,800 graphic sheets, 4,500 watercolors, drawings, 13 sculptures and writings and literary notes.”
Further Reading
In the short amount of reading I have done there is so much more to discover. So much more than I could ever cover and do justice to in this blog post. For an in depth look at Edward Munch, his life and influences please read the following:
- Edvard Munch Paintings Biography and Quotes
- Munch Museum
- Wikipedia
- Museum of Modern Art
No longer shall I paint interiors with men reading and women knitting. I will paint living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love. Edvard Munch
One thing I can add to the bucket list, a trip to Norway and a visit to the Munch Museum
All images are my own – photographs of the artworks at MoMA Have a look at my Art while you are here.
