Art Lesson: The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch
Activity: “Things that make us want to scream”, a drawing.
Materials needed: white and black paper, black sharpie markers,
colored pencils or oil pastels
Keywords: Expressionism- a style of art in which the artist tries to
express certain feelings about something. Color- discuss the use of
color to show emotion, colors in painting are not realistic.
Meet The Artist: Edvard Munch (1863-1944)
 Edvard Munch was born in Norway on December 12, 1863. He was
often ill as a child and had to deal with a lot of illness and grief
in his family.
 At the age of seventeen, after beginning to pursue a career in
engineering, young Munch decided to give it all up to devote
himself to painting.
 Considered one of his country’s greatest artist. He was a painter,
lithographer etcher and wood engraver.
 Played a vital role in the development of the Expressionism
movement. As with most artists, much of Munch's subject
matter came directly from his life experiences. From the death
of family members to love lost, the images in his art were at
times too much for the general public to bear.
 His art is reflective of his own unhappy life as well as he basic fears
and anxieties of mankind. Considered his country of Norway's
greatest artist, Munch's works were very influential in the shaping
of modern art.
 Munch dies shortly after his 80th birthday. He willed over 20,000
works of art to the city of Oslo capital of Norway.
Artwork : “The Scream”
He is best know for his painting called "The Scream". It is a visual
representation of an anxiety attack suffered by the artist. It is
interesting to note that the blood red sky that seemed to trigger
the attack was probably a result of atmospheric changes caused by
the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa. In 2003 astronomers identified
the time that the painting depicted the eruption of Krakatoa in
1883, caused unusually intense sunsets throughout Europe, which
Munch captured in the painting.
"I was walking along a road one evening- on one side lay the city, and below me was
the fjord. The sun went down- the clouds were stained red, as if with blood. I felt
as though the whole of nature was screaming- it seemed as though I could hear a
scream. I painted that picture, painting the clouds like real blood. The colors
screamed." ~ Edvard Munch
There are 4 versions (3 are in museums), the 4th painting sold on May
2012. It took 12 nail-biting minutes and five eager bidders for Edvard
Munch’s famed 1895 pastel of “The Scream” to sell for $119.9 million,
becoming the world’s most expensive work of art ever to sell at
auction.
Questions (that can be asked): Do you recognize this painting? It’s a
famous painting, and the mask face is used in the movie- The Scream.
What do you think the artist is trying to say (an emotion)?
 How did Munch use color to set the mood?
 Do you like the painting?
Art Project: Students will create a drawing of a screaming person and
draw items “that make them want to scream”.
Materials: drawing paper, black Sharpie markers, use colored pencils,
crayons or oil pastels
What You Do:
1. Talk about why the man was screaming, and what causes one to well up into a
scream, of fear or another emotion.
2. Lead your students through the drawing of the head and hands of the
screaming man in Munch's work.
3. Once students finish the drawings, have them outline the "screamer" with a
black sharpie marker.
4. Using items (not people) that make the students want to scream, have the
students do drawings of things around the screaming man (i.e. roller
coasters, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc.). Emphasize the importance of this
being personal (I got some very creative responses!) and how to NOT use
people, etc.
5. When they are finished tracing, have the students add color. I chose
colored pencils, but any colorful media would work. Remind students to color
heavy, dark and to fill their page.