Anyway, some of us are probably intrigued by Munch’s painting “The Scream”.
In a page in Munch’s diary with the title Nice 22.01.1892, here’s how he described his inspiration for his famous painting:
“I was walking along a path with two friends — the sun was setting — 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 fjord and the city — my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety — and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”
Some scholars theorize that the red tinted sky was due to ash ejected by a volcanic eruption which was seen in the US, Europe and Asia around Nov 1883 to Feb 1884. Other scholars speculate that the setting of the painting was inspired by the mental institution where Munch’s manic depressive sister was interned in. And there are some others who say that the strange, gender-less creature was inspired by a mummy which Munch could have seen at Paris or Florence.
Oh well, we will probably never know what Munch’s real inspiration is. Deciphering the story behind each painting for me though, is what makes old masterpieces very intriguing. :)
