The Scream by Edvard Munch

An absolute and universal emblem of the modern expressionist current, this composition of an unprecedented dramatic power materializes existential anxiety and the dread of man facing the infinite. Through a tormented and sinuous graphic design, this narrative creation expresses a tearing inner cry under the revolutionary brush of the creator Edvard Munch. This major work, bearing the title of “The Scream”, permanently upsets traditional codes of representation to give a plastic form to human psychological distress.

In the foreground, a spectral figure with a distorted and pale face stands upright, clapping both hands against its cheeks, its mouth wide open in an expression of total terror. It is dressed in a simple dress with fluid and dark lines that almost merge with the movement of the ground. To its left, a long straight wooden railing crosses the canvas diagonally, where two male silhouettes in black suits walk away. Behind this bridge, a deep night blue fjord winds sinuously next to a greenish hill. The heavy sky is a blaze of horizontal wavy bands of bright red, orange, and vibrant yellow.

The painter’s traditional brilliance shines through in this use of dynamic curved lines that vertiginously unify sky, earth, and character. His bold technique allows him to materialize internal suffering with a striking plastic force, confirming his absolute mastery of oil painting.