The Scream

The Scream (Skrik, 1893) is a seminal series of expressionist painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, depicting an agonized figure against a blood red skyline. It is said by some to symbolize the human species overwhelmed by an attack of existential angst. The landscape in the background is Oslofjord, viewed from the hill of Ekeberg, in Oslo (then Kristiania), Norway. Munch created several versions of The Scream in various media. The Munch Museum holds one of two painted versions (see gallery) and one pastel. The National Gallery of Norway holds the other painted version (shown to right). A fourth version, in pastel, is owned by Norwegian billionaire Petter Olsen. Munch also created a lithograph (1895, see gallery) of the image. The Scream has been the target of several high-profile art theft. In 1994, the version in the National Gallery was stolen. It was recovered several months later. In 2004, The Scream and Madonna were stolen from the Munch Museum. Both paintings were...