Munch, Edvard. The Scream. 1893-1910. Expressionist, National Gallery of Norway,
The various colors of the painting create a dramatic image that depicts an intense mood. The greens and the reds exemplify chaos and disorder, which reinforces the expression of the figure. The figure itself stands as an emaciated individual with no defined gender. The character stands on a bridge clutching its ears; its eyes and mouth wide open with an expression of fear and anguish. The green hue of the face and the grey color of the clothing emphasize sickness and illustrate the psychotic state the character is in. The red sky in the background further creates a sense of alarm and intensifies the character’s emotion.
Though not apparent at first, the painting ties well with the overall theme. The artist of the painting, Edvard Munch, provides observers with an insight of his own tortured soul. Munch suffered the deaths of many of his family members and the darkness created by his pain bled into his painting. The character in the painting is falling into a dark abyss. The scream is the character’s last defense before being consumed by darkness.