The Scream is an artwork created by Edward Munch in 1893. The paint is in the National Gallery and Munch Museum. It was painted using oil and pastel. This painting has been subject to different analysis since its production. It is an artefact that expresses the high culture of the art world. Therefore, as a cultural product, it has been widely reproduced and referenced. It meets the direct definition of a painting because it is a visual culture that is people's everyday life and not just part of their daily life. Sight is an essential sense for humans. Individuals tend to prefer sight above other senses, and so the visual culture created by the art world is much appreciated. 'Seeing comes before words.' The analysis of The Scream will aid in understanding various elements of the painting.
The Scream can be analyzed in various forms. It can be assessed in terms of the life of the artist and its initial production. The first form comprises a background review of Edward Munch. Munch was born in 1863 in Norway's capital Christiania (Oslo). He experienced a tragic childhood as his mother and sister died of tuberculosis. Munch was always ill while growing up. Therefore, he reformed to art to express his feelings about his life and experience. At the moment, Norway was culturally active, and artists took this opportunity to portray various events in their lives and community in general. Munch went to study under Christian Krohg, a leading artist at the time. Munch learned about modernism and ways to paint about anxieties and longings in life. In 1889, when his father died, he felt much sadness that affected his work.
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The Scream was painted using pastel and tempera on board. The image is portrayed at face value. There is one central figure who has his/her hand over the ears as other characters are walking at a distance. The scenery is of a river, sea or sunset. Besides, the brushstrokes make the scene to appear swirl showing a sense of motion. The painting as well explores expressionism. Expressionism is a movement in fine arts that enables artists to express inner experience and not just a solely realistic portrayal. Therefore, The Scream depicts responses from objects and events that surround the artist's subjective emotions. Nonetheless, Munch's drawing does not give a realistic visual interpretation. It is based on his inner feelings and thoughts, making it an abstract image.
An understanding of this artwork can be based on an analysis of the period in history in which Munch lived and worked. In this context, it is clear that Munch is struggling to come to terms with his life experiences, including anguish and depression. Such expressions in artwork make an artist to be referred to as an existentialist. Munch is an existentialist as he commits himself to complete responsibility in expressing societal factors through his experiences.
An analysis of The Scream gives an understanding of his experiences and feelings at the moment. In the image, other concepts can be extracted, not just Munch's personal experiences. For instance, the picture shows the connection between western capitalism and art. The upper and middle-class traders used oil paintings. Therefore, The Scream defines the concept of Western Capitalism as it shows the living status and economic variances at the time. The art can be viewed as a 'cultural icon' through the vast biography of the artist and the reproductions of the work. Lastly, this artwork shows that Edward Munch is a great printmaker. He deploys lithographs, etchings, and woodcuts in his painting.
