The Scream

The Scream

Sue Hubbard, senior editor of the London Independent states "It hangs in a thousand student bedrooms, and has adorned everything from book jackets to tea towels. It's an image that has come, perhaps more than any other, to represent the alienation, dislocated loneliness and existential anxiety of modernity." They say that one of the finest forms of flattery is imitation and when dealing with artwork obviously theft also holds a very high ranking as well . The Scream, created by Edvard Munch, posses both of the above mentioned.

Composed in the latter stages of the 19th century, the piece was popular during the lifetime of its creator, but it was not until the 20th century when the ability to print reproductions became better efficient and less costly then ignited the popularity of Oslo, Norway's most treasured work of art (Fineman, Mia. Washingtonpost, Newsweek Interactive Company 22 November 2005.).

Munch's timeless painting has found its way into collectors homes in many other forms than that of a framed reprint. Courtesy of everyone's favorite online auction site EBAY you have access too roughly three-hundred items pertaining to the highly regarded piece of art. Not all of the items are different but there is more than enough variation in the items to be able to find something to one's liking. Atop the list is a personal a parody focused on the popular carton The Simpson's. Among others are key chains, mouse pads, belt buckles, mugs, T-shirts, and even a fifty inch inflatable likeness of the paintings main character. So for those who would enjoy the work of art to a home but do not have the drive to steal it, which was a popular way of doing so in the past, one has the appealing option of purchasing whatever form of it that suits his/her personality best.

The consensus seems to point directly at The Scream being Munch's most famous piece; although he has produced other highly regarded paintings such as Madonna (also stolen and still missing) The Scream seems to be the most popular (Fineman). The work certainly has a dark tone about it. Munch had recorded a few thoughts concerning his inspiration for the work of art. He stated "I was walking along a path with two friends. The sun was setting and suddenly the sky turned blood red, I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence.There was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fiord and the city. My friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature." (Zeaman, John. New Jersey Media Group, Staff Writer). With further observations and research, it is told that surrounding the bridge where an asylum