The Scream

The Scream (Skrik)

Edvard Munch · 1893

Collection National Museum of Norway · Oslo

Zoom in to the brushstrokes

Why did this painting become "The Scream"?

Key Points

The painter who felt nature's scream during an evening walk
The red sky may have been caused by a volcanic eruption
The figure in the painting may have been inspired by a mummy
The events surrounding its theft and recovery

Reading the Work

What's Depicted

This painting depicts a person trembling with exhaustion and anxiety, gazing at the sky. His face is filled with pain and despair, and the red sky looks like a scream from nature itself. The figure is shown from behind, so his face is not visible, yet his emotion dominates the entire painting.

Into the Painting

The red sky was painted with cadmium yellow and ultramarine, and the painting's colors carry an intense, emotional tone. The figure's face is faintly rendered like a skull, making his identity unknowable. The background depicts a fjord and a hillside path overlooking the city, symbolizing the conflict between nature and humanity.

Why It's a Masterpiece

This painting is regarded as a symbol of modern art, symbolically expressing human psychological pain and anxiety. It had a great influence on the Expressionist movement and has become one of the most famous images in art history. His emotion has resonated with people around the world.

Behind the Painting

The battle of theft and recovery

In 1994, this painting was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo. The thieves fled, leaving behind a note that read "Thanks for the poor security." However, thanks to cooperation between police and British agents, the painting was recovered within three months. It was stolen again from the Munch Museum in 2004, but was recovered in 2006.

The identity of the figure in the painting

Who is the figure in the painting? Some scholars speculate the figure may be Munch himself, or his sister Laura Catherine. She was hospitalized in a psychiatric institution, and the figure may also be connected to his own mental anguish. However, the identity remains a mystery.

The secret of the pencil scrawl

The first version bears a pencil inscription reading "Can only have been painted by a madman!" This inscription is believed to have been added by Munch after he faced criticism. The phrase reflects his psychological suffering and artistic isolation.

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Further reading · Smarthistory · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Image: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Last updated 2026-07-17