Edvard Munch: the Scream November 21, 2012

Edvard Munch's iconic 'The Scream,' among the most celebrated and recognized images in art history, will be on view at The Museum of Modern Art for a period of six months. Of the four versions of 'The Scream' made by Munch between 1893 and 1910, this pastel-on-board from 1895 is the only one remaining in private hands; the three other versions are in the collections of museums in Norway. A haunting rendition of a hairless figure on a bridge under a yellow-orange sky, 'The Scream' has captured the popular imagination since the time of its making. The image was originally conceived by Munch as part of his epic "Frieze of Life" series, which explored the progression of modern life by focusing on the themes of love, angst, and death. Especially concerned with the expressive representation of emotions and personal relationships, Munch was associated with the international development of Symbolism during the 1890s and recognized as a precursor of 20th-century Expressionism.