The Scream

On a bridge, a skeletal-faced figure covers their ears with both hands.

A wide-open mouth.

In the background, a swirling landscape and two receding figures are visible.

This imagery, one of the most famous in the world.

It is often assumed that the depicted figure is 'screaming' out of terror.

It is also frequently said that this work was impulsively created, driven by intense emotion.

But in fact, that's not the case.

This figure is not screaming, but rather covering their ears from a 'scream' they hear.

And this print, far from being impulsive, was created with extremely meticulous calculation.

The path on Ekeberg Hill, a suburb of Oslo, which serves as the setting, was known at the time as a place where people frequently took their own lives.

Furthermore, below the cliff was Gaustad Psychiatric Hospital, where Munch's sister Laura was institutionalized.

Munch himself was constantly tormented by the fear of hereditary illness running in his family.

Right next to the hospital was a massive municipal slaughterhouse.

The screams of psychiatric patients.

And the death throes of slaughtered livestock.

These sounds intertwined, creating a unique environment where they seemed to rise up to the top of the hill.

It was around late 1891 to 1892.

As Munch was walking along this path with two friends, the setting sun suddenly dyed the clouds blood-red.

His friends continued walking straight ahead, as if nothing had happened.

Munch was left behind.

He was overcome by an exhaustion and anxiety so profound it felt like death, and he leaned against the railing.

At that moment, he physically experienced a 'vast, infinite scream piercing through nature.'