The Scream (Norwegian: Skrik) is Edvard Munch’s most recognisable painting and one of the most reproduced artworks in the world. The open-mouthed figure under a blood-red sky has become a universal symbol of modern anxiety. Read the story and meaning of the painting – and how a hand-painted reproduction of The Scream is made on canvas.
The story: a walk that became nature’s scream
Munch described the inspiration in his diary: walking along a fjord, the sky turned blood red and he “felt an infinite scream passing through nature”. Between 1893 and 1910 he created four versions – in tempera, crayon and pastel on cardboard – plus an 1895 lithograph. The most famous version hangs in the National Gallery in Oslo.
Who painted The Scream? (No, it wasn’t Van Gogh)
The Scream is the work of the Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch (1863–1944). Because of the swirling sky, many mistakenly attribute it to Vincent van Gogh – yet Van Gogh died in 1890, three years before the first version of The Scream. The kinship is no accident: both painters used colour to express emotion rather than imitate reality, which is why their works often hang in the same reproduction collections.
Meaning: why The Scream still speaks today
The Scream does not depict a screaming figure – the figure covers its ears against a scream coming from nature. Munch painted anxiety as a landscape: the undulating sky, curved shoreline and figure merge into a single visual surge. That is why the painting works in modern interiors too – as a bold colour statement and a conversation piece.
How a hand-painted reproduction of The Scream is made
A curious fact: Munch’s originals are not on canvas at all, but in tempera, crayon and pastel on cardboard. Our painter recreates the motif in oils on canvas, with brush and palette knife – with a depth of paint no print can match. The swirling sky demands a wet-on-wet technique, where red and orange tones blend directly on the canvas. The reproduction is stretched on a wooden stretcher and can be framed – choose a frame in the 3D preview on the product page.
Frequently asked questions about The Scream
Where does the original of The Scream hang?
The most famous 1893 version is in the National Gallery in Oslo; another key version and the lithographs are in the Munch Museum in Oslo. The 1895 pastel version is privately owned.
How many versions of The Scream exist?
Munch created four versions (1893–1910) in tempera, crayon and pastel, plus an 1895 lithograph from which numerous prints were made.
Did Van Gogh paint The Scream?
No – The Scream was painted by Edvard Munch in 1893. Van Gogh died in 1890. The mix-up is common because of the similarly expressive colour and swirling strokes.
Can I buy a hand-painted reproduction of The Scream?
Yes – order a hand-painted reproduction of The Scream on canvas in your chosen size from our online gallery. You receive a photo of the painting for approval before delivery.
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