Artist: Edvard Munch

Title: The Scream

Date: 1893

Medium: Tempura on cardboard

Currently: National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo

Source: http://nationalmuseum.no

Human Emotions

Describe: Munch used colors between blue and orange, two complementary 

colors. He used thick and thin lines and some are curvy while others are straight. He emphasized different parts of the paintings by the major contrasts of color. Everything but the bridge is curving in some way.

Analyze: Munch used somewhat messy lines. This piece has colors from both the cool and warm schemes of the color wheel. He used two main colors, shades of blue and shades of orange: two complementary colors. There are no repeating patterns in this piece.

Interpret: Looking at this painting, I notice the expression on the man's face first. He looks to be worried, scared, nervous, etc.The lines in this painting create a feeling of anxiety. The lines are messy, not very straight in most cases, and they all vary in different sizes and colors. The way Munch drew this piece brings my eyes in a circle around the man. It starts at the water coming down to him, then I follow the straight lines of the bridge bringing my eyes to the sky that waves over to the water to start another cycle. Munch painted the man a dark blue and greenish color to show a depressed feeling and the orange and yellow in the sky to show energy.

Judge: I have always really enjoyed this piece. At a younger age, I found it to be quite comical, but now I see that it is really a little sad. I love how the painting is organized and not overflowing but is still kind of chaotic. I find the colors in this painting to be really beautiful and vibrant. This piece is by far my one of my favorite paintings.